Florence Celine Wright Barnett (1974)

BARNETT, WRIGHT, MENDENHALL, APPLEGATE, COOK

Posted By: Ida Morse (email)
Date: 9/18/2006 at 19:33:52

Earlham Library Obituaries, December 1974
Earlham, Iowa

FLORENCE C. BARNETT

We are assembled today in memory of Florence C. Barnett, an elder Christian so recently in our midst and a member of Bear Creek Friends church. But we would not sorrow as those without hope, for our faith and spiritual anticipations are – as were hers – centered upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We pause also in worship and thanksgiving for the contribution and influence of this Christian person who has so recently departed from us, in order to be with the Lord.

Florence Celine Wright, daughter of John A. and Sarah Emeline Wright, was born in Dallas County, near Linden, Iowa, July 12, 1888, the third in a family of five children. She was educated in the nearby Greenvale rural school, then into Linden high school. She was privileged to have some brief studies in music. Thus in youth and again in later years, she sometimes served as the church organist or pianist in Linden or rural areas.

On January 19, 1908, she was united in marriage to Bruce E. Barnett of Linden, in which or nearby, they lived until 1953. to this union were born six children; Paul of Salem, Oregon; Celine (Mrs. Floyd Mendenhall) of Rushville, Nebraska; Wilma (Mrs. Dwayne Applegate) of Dexter; Marie (Mrs. Otha Cook), of Earlham; Robert of Newberg, Oregon; and Rollin of Earlham. Her husband preceded her in death October 21, 1953. She was the last of her own childhood family, inasmuch as her parents, her two brothers, and two sisters have all preceded her in this departure. Her homegoing occurred in Earlham, Madison county, Iowa, December 23, 1974, she having attained the age of 86 years. Most of her 45 years of married life were spent in the vocation of farming together with her husband. Since 1954, she resided in the town of Earlham.

She became a Christian in her youth and united with the Friends church at Linden. Later after many years membership there, she with her husband, were transferred to the Bear Creek Friends church near Earlham in 1951. Whether serving in responsibilities as a Christian mother, or whether participating in music, or in work as a committee member within the church or community, it was always her desire to do her part properly. Though of quiet nature, she will be remembered with appreciation by many besides the closely related members of her family.

Besides the six above named children, she is survived by 25 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren. 16 nephews and nieces, other relatives, friends and acquaintances.

Through we would not minimize the family and social relationships, let us cherish much more the spiritual relationships, made possible for all us via Christ the Savior! The former we know by the years with their temporal characteristics; but the latter can be appreciated now – and then in God’s time also be renewed in that place our Lord said. He would prepare! Because of such Christian faith, we are left not only with many inspiring memories, but we find also in our heritage a compensating challenge and a definite spiritual hope!

“God calls our loved ones, but we lose not wholly
What He has given;
They live on earth in thought and deed, as truly
As in His Heaven.”
-John Greenleaf Whittier