Mary Ellen Hadley

BARNETT, HADLEY, MENDENHALL, COOK, RICH, SMITH

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 7/21/2006 at 20:14:43

Earlham Echo - Thursday, January 11, 1945

Mary Ellen Barnett, the youngest child of Curtis and Sidney Barnett, was born July 26, 1867, on the family homestead, now the home of Levi and Abbie Cook. Her home has always been in the Bear Creek neighborhood, within a mile of the Bear Creek church.

On October 17, 1886 she was united in marriage to Isaac Anson Hadley, a happy union that continued for more than 53 years, until the death of her companion February 5, 1940. Into their home, three children were born: Orpha H. Mendenhall, Oren B., and Willard J.

Mary was a birthright member of the Friends and reared in a christian home. She was converted at an early age during a series of meetings conducted by Benjamin Hiatt. Throughout her life she maintained a vital interest in the various activities of the church. For many years, she was a member of the meeting of Ministry and Oversight.

She possessed a rare faculty for making friends, and was never happier than when performing some act of kindness or helpfulness for another. There are few members of the community that cannot recall some visible token of her friendly interest and she was familiarly known as "Aunt Mary" or "Grandma Hadley."

The Anson Hadley home was always a center of hospitality--hospitality that was enjoyed by old and young, by children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many others.

For more than a year, she has been in failing health but bore her physical suffering with a beautiful spirit. Her faith in Christ never wavered.

While at the home of her daughter, she quietly passed from this life to the life beyond, on New Years Day, 1945, at the age of 77 years, five months and six days.

Of her eight brothers and sisters she is survived by one sister, Abbie Cook. Besides this sister and the three children, she leaves eight grandchildren: Mildred H. Rich, Daylon and Dorothy Lea Hadley, Marjorie H. Smith, Howard and Leonard Hadley, Herschel and Charles Mendenhall. One grandson, Merritt Hadley having preceded her in death more than a year ago. Also there are three little great grandchildren: Nancy Louise Hadley, Micheal and Stephen Rich, a number of nieces and nephews, other relatives and a wide circle of friends.

Her life has been an example of cheerfulness, friendliness and good will and we feel sure that if she could have left parting wish for all, it would have been to commend them to the friendship of the Greatest of all Friends.

Funeral service conducted by the Bear Creek Friends pastor Rev. John McCracken and Rev. Ben Harris, Union, Iowa. Mrs. Walter Mapes and Mrs. Leo Conrad with Mrs. Fred Fry, accompanist, sang "The End of the Way" and "The Lights of Home."

Pall bearers were: Freemont, Ober and John Hadley, Willard and Clyde Barnett and Ivan Compton.

Interment in Bear Creek cemetery January 4, 1945.