Ruth Abigail (Stanley) Hockett (1942)

HOCKETT, MOORE, STANLEY, WALTON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 10/13/2011 at 09:56:53

Earlham Library Obituary Collection
Earlham, Iowa
May, 1942

Mrs. Ruth Abigail Stanley, daughter of Joshua Foster and Mary Jane Stanley, was born in Henry county, Indiana, November 21, 1856 and departed this life, May 31, 1942, at the age of 85 years, six months, and ten days. At an early age, Ruth, with her parents, came west by covered wagon trail, to settle on a farm, near Lynnville, Jasper county, Iowa. In her early teens the family moved to Madison county, to what is now Earlham, where Ruth attended school. As a classmate of Stephen David Hockett, this friendship culminated in marriage, August 9, 1876. Six of the eight children born of this union, survive: Gertrude (Mrs. J. E. Walton), of Des Moines; James Corwin, Lancaster, Missouri; Seburn Waldo, Polytecnic, Montana; Stephen D. Jr., of Des Moines; Miss Mayme of Des Moines; and Orpha (Mrs. Pardie L. Moore) of Boone, Iowa. A son, Charles Foster, died in infancy. Another son, Fred, of Canton, Missouri and her husband, Stephen, also preceded her in death. Other survivors are: Mrs. Mae Hockett, widow of Fred; 21 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, and one brother, Charles Stanley of Holton, Kansas.

The fifth child of a family of eight brothers and sisters, “Ruth” grew up amid the rigors of pioneer farm life, in the days of making tallow candles; of carding wool; of spinning cloth for their own clothing; and later, of singing schools and of fording streams with horses and wagon on long trips to mill that wheat might be ground for bread.

A birthright member of the Quaker Church, she was a constant attendant, while in Earlham, of Bible School, prayer and missionary meetings, and she sang in the choir. She always remembered dates of the Quarterly Meetings, even when health prevented her attendance. But her main interest was in her home and family and no task was too difficult for her to perform for her loved ones.

Twelve years ago, in August, she suffered a stroke of paralysis which left her a shut-in, except for trips in a car, or visits to her children and friends. Her sincere love for people and her cheerful outlook on life gained her hosts of friends and those who visited her heard words of kindliness and cheer. Faith in her Master was steadfast and during her last hours, in the home of Mayme with whom she lived in Des Moines, she voiced praise to Jesus, her unfailing Friend, and prayed for every member of her family.

Truly Ruth Hockett has heard the “Well Done” from her Heavenly Father and when she stepped ashore she found it Heaven; when she felt invigorated air, she found it was immortality; and when she awakened she found it was Home with her God.
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The Winterset Madisonian
Wednesday, June 10, 1942
Page 7, Column 2

Week's Letter From Earlham

Funeral services were held Wednesday for Mrs. Ruth Hockett of Des Moines, at the Earlham Friends church with Mrs. Norah Craven of Pleasant Plains in charge. Rev. Craven and Rev. Wilson assisted Mrs. Craven.

Mrs. Hockett was 85 years old at the time of her death which occurred Sunday at the home of her daughter, Miss Mayme Hockett in Des Moines. Mrs. Hockett is survived by three daughters: Mrs. Gertrude Hockett Walton of Des Moines, Mrs. Opha Moore of Boone and Mayme of Des Moines; three sons James Corwin of Lancaster, Mo., Seburn Waldo of Montana, and Stephen of Des Moines.

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