Simpson, Mary Catherine 1868-1919

SIMPSON, KERN

Posted By: Viv Reeves, Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/9/2007 at 17:09:27

LeMars Sentinel, LeMars, (Plymouth), Iowa, Friday, March 14, 1919, Page 1, Columns 1-2:

Mrs. George Simpson, A Resident of LeMars Since Girlhood,Succumbs to Illness of a Week--Leave Husband and Three Children.

Mrs. Simpson, wife of George Simpson, residing at 1005 Cedar street, died yesterday morning after an illness of a week from influenza and other complications.

Mrs. Simpson was a resident of LeMars nearly all her life, coming here when a girl with her parents.

Mrs. Simpson was fifty years of age at the time of her death. Her maiden name was Mary Catherine Kern and she was born at Galena, Ill., on July 19, 1868. When she was a girl of eleven her parents moved to LeMars, in 1879 and this has been the family home since. She attended the public schools here and helped in the home work. She was united in marriage with George Simpson on October 16, 1892. To their union six children were born, one, a girl, Mary, dying in infancy. Chris and Will died eight years ago within a day or two of each other*. Three children, with the father, are left to mourn her death. They are Frank, May and Gladys. She is also survived by her brothers, Will Kern, of this city, Nicholas Kern, of Portland, Oregon; and a sister, Mrs. John Donahoe, of LeMars; two half brothers, Chris Kern of St. Paul; John Kern of Galena, Ill.; and a half sister, Lena Laughlin, of St. Paul, Minn.

Mrs. Kern (error--Simpson) was a member of the Presbyterian church having affiliated with that denomination in 1892. She was a faithful wife and a good mother and an unremittent toiler in the home and for the welfare of her husband and children. She never fully recovered from the blow she suffered in the death of her two sons, Chris and Will, who were high school youths when stricken and died within a few hours of each other*.

The funeral arrangements had not been made last evening as the family are awaiting word from relatives at a distance.

Later--The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock on Saturday from the home on Cedar street.
(*Note--William John died July 3, 1910 and Chris August 16, 1910.)