Sears, Etta Florence 1859-1939

SEARS, BACON, COCKING, WESCO

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/28/2010 at 19:13:53

Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) Aug. 1939

USEFUL LIFE OF MRS. ETTA SEARS REACHES CLOSE

Mrs. Etta Florence Sears, daughter of Joshua C. and Mary Jane Bacon, was born at Williamstown, Vermont, on May 20, 1859, and passed away at the home of her son Myron Sears, August 8, 1939, in her 80th year.

The Bacon family moved to Iowa in 1866, and lived a couple of years on a farm east of Grinnell. Their next move was to the farm where Lee Emmert now lives.

On March 27, 1878 she was married to Milton Adelbert Sears, and the young couple began housekeeping a quarter of a mile west of the place now occupied by Leslie McDowell. They farmed there seven years, after which they moved to the presesnt Ed Lidtka place.

In 1891 Mr. Sears bought the Chester Store, which he conducted, together with the post office, and in 1896 the family moved to the present Myron Sears farm.

In the fall of 1902 they left the farm and moved to Grinnell, where Mr. Sears was engaged in the farm implement business until his death, September 9, 1902. Mrs. Sears continued in Grinnell, where she made a home for her aged father and small son Edward until her health failed in 1920, since which time she has made her home on the old farm with the Myron Sears family and with her son Edward in Mason City.

In 1873 Mrs. Sears united with the Chester Congregational church, and through the 66 intervening years she has been loyal to it in all its best traditions and its work. At the time of her death she was its oldest member.

Mrs. Sears was the mother of two sons--Myron Adelbert and Edward Eugene, both of whom survive her. She also leaves two sisters--Mrs. Ida Cocking of Pelican Rapids, and Mrs. Frank Wesco, and one brother--Bert Bacon of Grinnell. There are six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

While Mrs. Sears was past 80, she never lost her keen interest in life and all its varied activities. With a mind that was clear and a spirit that was buoyant, she never grew old. Her body was frail, yet she was alert and active. Age could bend her form, but not her beautiful, indomitable soul. Her serene, thoughtful, happy life has been an unfailing benediction wherever she has sojourned, and the people of the Chester community in particular deeply mourn the passing of one who was a beloved mother to them all.

Funeral services, conducted by Rev. W.B. Wilson, her pastor, were held at the Chester church at 2 o'clock Thursday, and the body laid at rest in the Chester cemetery. The pall bearers were Elmer Rickard, J.B. Campbell, John Frankfort, Ernest Harris, Will Hays and Harry Bacon. A quartette composed of Mrs. Clarence Vogt, Mrs. Herzberg, Alvin Armstrong and Lester Lavender, with Mrs. Lester Hendrickson provided the music. Those in charge of the flowers were Mrs. Lloyd Tice, Rhoda Mae Sears, Alice Sears and Helen, Doris and Mary Lee Thompson.

RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT

Of Sonora Grange No. 2176 in rememberance of Etta Sears.

Whereas, it has pleased God to remove from our midst Etta Sears, mother of our Worthy Master,

Whereas, it is but just that a proper recognition of her departure be had, therefore, be it

Resolved, that in the death of the mother of one of our workers our Grange extends to the family our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their hour of bereavement.

Members of Sonora Grange.