Lillie McClain

MCCLAIN DINSMORE ARGANBRIGHT STOUT WOLFE AKERMAN GERHARDT

Posted By: Ken Funk (email)
Date: 3/13/2007 at 10:56:46

Published 30 May 1946 in the Fremont, IA Gazette

OBITUARY
MRS. LILLIE McCLAIN

Leah Ellen (Lillie), daughter of William and Mary Hampson Dinsmore, was born in Jacktown, Ohio May 31, 1855, and passed to her eternal home at her home near Fremont, at 4:40 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, 1946, aged 90 years, 11 months and 21 days.

When she was a small child, the family moved to Martinsburg, Ia. And later came to the Fremont community. Here she spent the greater part of her long and useful life. She was the first convert received into the present Baptist church of Fremont, which had been completed shortly before the revival meetings held by the Rev. Woods. On Dec. 25, 1875, she was baptized in the river, the ice being cut away for the baptismal services. For over seventy years, she was a faithful member of her church, contributing to its support and attending the services whenever possible.

At Fremont on Nov. 9, 1892, she and J. S. McClain were united in marriage by the Rev. Jas. Frey; to their home five children came; Anna Myrle, who died in 1923, Fred of San Francisco, Calif., Rex at home, Mrs. E. L. Howell of Marshalltown, and Mrs. Dean Stout of Fremont.

Although she had been frail for a number of years, she was able to look after her home until a few months ago when she became seriously ill.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers and one sister all of who died in infancy; one sister, Josephine Higgason, two brothers, Hamer and Charlie, her husband, and daughter, Myrle. She is survived by the two sons, Fred and Rex, two daughters, Mollie and Gretchen, two grandsons, Cedric Howell, U. S. N., and Max McClain of Ottumwa, two granddaughters, Mrs. Ruth Howell Berg of Marshalltown and Mrs. Mary Ellen Stout Wolfe, of Ottumwa; two great granddaughters, Barbara Ann and Sharon Lee Berg of Marshalltown, and one sister, Mrs. Allie Krout of Des Moines, Iowa, besides many other relatives and friends.

The one daughter Mollie, who before the last illness, was always able to come to help in the care of her mother, was unable to be there because of an accident which confined her to the hospital.

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Fremont Baptist church, and with the exception of the vocal duets, the entire service was conducted by relatives of the deceased. Rev. Rex Dinsmore of Newton, a nephew, gave the sermon. Music was furnished by Mrs. Mac Lee and Miss Elnora Steele, with Mrs. Mary Dinsmore at the piano.

Honorary pallbearers were four of the remaining eight members of the “Girls of ‘78”—Mrs. Florence Eastburn, Mrs. Ruth Triplett, Mrs. Hattie Funk, and Mrs. Adda Arganbright. Another member of the group present was Mrs. Allie Krout, sister of Mrs. McClain, and now the only living member of the William Dinsmore family.

Regular pallbearers were nephews—Will and Frank Dinsmore, Merwyn and William Dinsmore, Earl and Fred Akerman, John Akerman and Robert McDowell.

Those from a distance attending the services were Mrs. Alice Thomas, William Dinsmore, Mrs. Allie Krout, Mrs. Erma Crawford from Des Moines; Mrs. Ollie Akerman, Earl Akerman, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Akerman, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilson and daughter, Margaret, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wolfe and Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Dinsmore of Ottumwa; Mrs. Frank McCord of Eddyville; Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Schreiner of Moravia; Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Watton of Martinsburg; Forest Gerhart of Centerville; Mrs. Jas. Ruxton of Zearing; Mrs. Vera Stout and Mrs. Leona Catlin of Oskaloosa; E. L. Howell, Mrs. Ruth Berg and Barbara Ann Berg of Marshalltown; Mr. and Mrs. Fred McClain of San Francisco, Calif.

IN REMEMBERANCE
This memory of my mother stays with me
Throughout the years; the way she used to stand
Framed in the door, when any of her band
Of children left. As long as she could see
Their forms, she gazed as if she seemed to be
Trying to guard—to meet some far demand;
And then, before she turned to tasks at hand,
She breathed a prayer, inaudibly.
And now, I think, in some far heavenly place
She still will watch, and yet not be distressed;
But rather, as one, who, after life’s long race,
Has found contentment in a well earned rest.
There, in a peaceful, dreamlike reverie,
She’ll wait, from earthly cares set free.