Coutts, Harry Gordon 1887-1953

COUTTS, FARLEY, KENNISON, MILLER, GEORGE, NORTON, LINCOLN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/28/2010 at 11:26:49

The Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) March 2, 1953

HARRY GORDON COUTTS

Harry Gordon Coutts, son of the late Robert Gordon and Alveretta Farley Coutts, was born at Ewart, June 7, 1887, and passed from this life, very suddenly, from a heart attack at his late home, 721 Dobson Street, Evanston, Ill., on the morning of Feb. 21, 1953, aged 65 years, 8 months and 14 days.

His early boyhood was spent in Grinnell and he graduated from the Grinnell High School in the class of 1905. Later he entered Iowa State college at Ames, and was graduated from the Civil Engineering department in the class of 1910. He immeditely secured a posititon with the U.S. Steel corporation in Chicago as a structural engineer but in 1911 he entered the employ of the Wells Brothers Construction Co., and his first large structure was the Rand-McNally building at the corner of Clark and Harrison Streets. He was with the Wells Brothers for a number of years, erecting large structures in Chicago, Boston and Atlanta. He was very adept in his specialty of heavy building construction and his services were in great demand from some of the largest construction builders in the country.

During both World War I and II he was engaged in work for the U.S. government covering a wide territory in his various duties connected with the vast government projects being erected. His last work before his decease was with the B.W. Construction company, 39 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago on housing work in and around the city and he was held in very high esteem by his employers.

On Aug. 4, 1912, he was married in Chicago to Delia Kennison, a native of Madrid, Iowa, who passed away in Chicago in June, 1923. On Nov. 7, 1925, he was married in Chicago to Olivia E. Miller, who is left to mourn his loss. There were no children by either marriage.

He is also survived by three brothers, Ross, of Grinnell, Dwight, of Santa Barbara, California, and Ray of Washington, D.C.; three sisters, Hazel of Morgantown, West Va., Helen (Mrs. Russell George) of Grinnell, and Grace (Mrs. S.G. Norton) of Brunswick, Ga.; one aunt, Mrs. Mary Lincoln of Grinnell, and a host of friends scattered far and wide.

His fraternal connections were Blair Lodge No. 393, AF and AM, and the Scottish Rite bodies of Chicago, Elf Khurafah Shrine Temple of Saginaw, Mich., and the B.P.O.E. No. 1316, Evanston, Ill.

The last rites were conducted from the Hebblethwaite Mortuary chapel, 1567 Maple Street, Evanston, Ill. The Elks' service was held at 8 p.m. on the 23rd and the religious service at 1 p.m. the 24th, conducted by the Rev. Mr. McVaney of the Methodist church. Interment was in Graceland cemetery, Chicago, private rites.

His brother Ross and sister Helen of Grinnell and his brother Dwight from Santa Barbara were in attendance.