Eliza Edna (DeWitt) Lilley (1916)

DEWITT, LILLEY

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 1/24/2011 at 20:26:42

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, April 5, 1916
Page 5

Ebenezer

ELIZA EDNA LILLEY

Mrs. E. E. Lilley died at her home in Peru Thursday evening, after an illness of but one week. The funeral was held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from her late home. A noble woman has gone to her reward.
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The East Peru Mail
East Peru, Iowa
Friday, April 7, 1916
Page 1, Column 3

AT REST

Mrs. Eliza E. Lilley, familiarly called grandma Lilley, is with us no more. Her death occurred Thursday afternoon, March 30th, 1916. After a brief illness of only one week she quietly and peacefully went to sleep. Mrs. Lilley’s life need no eulogy from us, nor would she wish it for her oft expressed desire was to so live that her own life and actions would speak for her after she was dead and gone, and she so lived. The funeral was held from her late residence Saturday at 10 o’clock, conducted by her pastor Rev. O. L. Jones, and the body was laid beside her husband in the Peru cemetery. Below is the obituary as given us:

Eliza E. DeWitt was born Oct. 12th, 1833, in Virginia. Her father was the Rev. John DeWitt. He was born in Pennsylvania while her mother was from the State of Ohio. They lived together for several years in Virginia, Ohio and Iowa. At the age of 18 she was converted, and joined the Christian church at Batavia, Iowa. On Sept. 10th at Batavia, Miss De Witt was married to Dr. P. R. Lilley. Unto this union were born five sons and a daughter. One of the sons died in infancy and the daughter, known as Mrs. Gussie Emerson, died at the age of 33 years at Peru, Iowa.

Dr. Lilley and family moved to Kansas in 1867, there they united with the Methodist Episcopal church, from which church they were transferred to the church eternal. They returned to Madison County in 1875. The father died March 27, 1905. In 1912 their son W. L. Lilley died; and again in 1913 the death angel called to take away a second son J. H. Lilley.

And on the 30th day of March 1916, the mother departed. She is survived by two sons J. E. and G. H. Lilley of Des Moines, and a host of loved ones. She was grandma Lilley to everyone.

Grandma Lilley was a choice woman, a rare spirit. She had a refinement about her which few folks possess, a charm of virtue which can be explained only by one word—Christian. Hers was indeed a Christian Life. Not only was she faithful to her church and other Christian agencies, but she was herself a Christian agent. She was always serving, never forgetting the needy, but often forgetful of her own physical strength. She was a source of cheer and help to everyone. She created an atmosphere which made evil want to hide, and virtue be at home. The golden sheaf is garnerd, ripe not only with years, but with golden deeds, done in the Master’s name.
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Coordinator's note: Transcribed as published, her gravestone and numerous censuses indicate she was born in 1838 rather than 1833.

Link to Gravestone Photo
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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