Sarah Ann Thomas Ray (1870-1945)

RAY, THOMAS, WELLS, SHEARER, HOWLEY, HINZ, KNUDSEN, PEARSON, CONRAD, CROOKS

Posted By: Angela Baum (email)
Date: 9/8/2010 at 11:03:38

From a copy of a unknown newspaper clipping

Mrs. Ray Dies at Sioux City Hosp.
Lived in O’Brien County Since 1888

The Community of Primghar and vicinity was grieved to hear that Mrs. Sarah Rae (sic) died at the Methodist hospital in Sioux City last Tuesday at the age of 75 years.
Sarah Ann, was born the daughter of Wheeler A. and Mable Wells Thomas, on May 8th 1870, at Darien, Wisconsin; the eldest of a family of six girls.
With her parents, she came to O’Brien County in 1873 at the age of three years. In this county she and her five sisters grew to young womanhood; and here she has always lived since coming in 1873.
On May 23, 1888, she was united in marriage to Montgomery M. Ray, usually known as Monty Ray.
As a young bride she went to her home northwest of Primghar. The home having been prepared by her husband for her coming. Here for many years they lived, and here their five children were born.
Four of these daughters survive. They are, Althea, Bessie, Mrs. Shearer; Gladys, and Mable now Mrs. Howley, Delia died in infancy.
In the spring of 1909 the family moved to Primghar, where Mrs. Ray continued to live until she passed away at The Methodist Hospital in Sioux City on Tuesday morning at about five o’clock.
Beside the daughters there survive her three sisters, they are Mrs. Frank Hinz, of Primghar; Mrs. Andy Knudsen and Mrs. Edward Pearson of Sioux City. Two sisters proceeded her in death they are Mrs. Allen Conrad and Mrs. B.O. Crooks.
There are also five grand children and seven great grand children.
Of the daughters surviving, Althea, Bessie, and Mable live in California while Gladys lives in Chicago.
Mrs. Ray united with the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church now The Methodist Church, on September 13th, 1886, under the pastorate of the Rev. A. King. She has lived a consistant Christian life. As long as she was able she very active in all the activities of the church, and raised her children to be Christian women.
At her death she lacked but seven days of being seventy five years of age.

During her long life Mrs. Ray made a host of friends who with the immediate family will greatly miss her. In late years she has been living quietly here in Pringhar, cheered on by her family and the friends who loved to call and talk of the old times in O’Brien County. We feel sure she has heard the “Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”
The funeral was held at The Methodist church on Thursday afternoon, May 3rd, with The Rev. C. N. McMillian in charge. Interment in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Those from a distance were Mrs. Bessie Shearer, Mrs. Mable Howley, and Alethea of California and Gladys of Chicago.