BOYCE, Nancy Belle (Croson) (1843-1922)

BOYCE, MCCLUSKEY, BENNETT, KEMP, SEITZ, KING, SHANNON, LEMMING, BOOTEN, BENEDICT, JACKSON, CROSON, BRINK

Posted By: Elaine Harrington (email)
Date: 9/13/2006 at 01:31:01

GRIM REAPER CALLS PIONEER
From the Opinion Tribune dated 03-15-1922:

Only those who knew her intimately can rightly estimate the splendid character of her who has been called to her reward.

Mrs. Boyce had lived beyond the Biblical limit of life, and though she passed the allotment some years, part of them in suffering, she retained all those loveable traits that had made her a marked wife, mother, friend and neighbor.

Nancy Belle Croson was born in Schuyler county, Mo., August 5, 1843, and departed this life on March 12, 1922, at the advanced age of 78 years, 7 months and 7 days.

In her native state of Missouri Miss Croson grew to young womanhood and there on November 22, 1865, she was united in marriage with R. L. Boyce. To this union were born eight children---five boys and three girls--- of which four are with us today. The others preceded their mother in death while quite young. Those living are Edmond of West Oak; Jess of Wayne, Neb.; Mrs. A. M. McCluskey of West Oak; Mrs. Ferdinand Seitz of Burr Oak. In addition to these Mr. and Mrs. Boyce took into their home two orphan boys, James Bennett, now of Wayne, Neb., and Frank Kemp, who was last heard from when in France with the A. E. F.

In 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Boyce and son Edmond left Missouri and came directly to Mills county and here they have made their home ever since, except one year when they lived in Council Bluffs.

At the age of 16 years the subject of this sketch gave her heart and life to Jesus Christ and accepted him as her personal savior. She united with the Southern M. E. church but after coming to Mills county her membership was transferred to the M. E. church known as Martin’s Chapel in the western part of this county. In 1898 she united with the U. B. church, of which she was a member at the time of her death. Thus she was constantly in though with church work.

Six years ago she suffered a stroke of paralysis and about one year later a second stroke and since that time was quite feeble. God saw fit to suddenly call her home Sunday, March 13, about the hour of 1:30 o’clock.

There are left to mourn and remember the departed her husband and four children, eighteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and a large circle of friends. As far as is known, she is the last one of her family.

In the death of the mother of this household her husband has lost a loving, a devoted and a faithful helpmeet who has stood by his side through joy and tears for nearly 57 years. The children have lost a kind, a loving, a patient, a persistent and every ready guide. The church has lost one who was ever willing to do her part in the great work of the church and one who always stood for the saving principles of life.

How often now I ponder

At night, when all is still,
Until my heart with longing

And sadness then does fill;
I seem to see my mother,

Her loving face aglow,
She’s sitting hear me once again

And singing soft and low.

How soft were her caresses

When care on her we laid;
How swift into contentment

Our sorrows then would fade.
No other voice but mother’s

Could drive the tears away;
No mem’ry of my childhood

Can sweeter be today.

Now that the years have vanished

And childhood days have passed,
The years at home with mother

They hurried, O, so fast.
But mem’ry still bring to me

A picture ever dear;
‘Tis alwass that of mother,

Whose voice I long to hear.

Funeral services were held from West Oak church Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. Rev. J. F. Stille officiating, assisted by Rev. Thomas Evans. Interment was made in the Glenwood cemetery.

Relatives from a distance at the funeral were Mrs. Charles King, Mrs. Jud Shannon, Mrs. Roy Lemming, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Boyce, Mrs. Nancy Boyce, Mrs. Frances Booton, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Boyce, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Benedict, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Boyce, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jackson, John Croson, all of Council Bluffs; Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Boyce of Wayne, Neb., and daughter Mrs. Willard Brink of Emerson, Neb.