Blow, Mary Frances (Manly) 1880-1913

BLOW, CARTER, MANLY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/8/2011 at 13:25:58

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Oct. 21, 1913

MRS. KEITH BLOW

At the funeral services for Mrs. Keith Blow last Friday afternoon, Professor S.J. Buck, who officiated at Mrs. Blow's marriage, spoke as follows:

Miss Mary Frances Manly, only daughter of John C. and Mary Carter Manly, was born in Des Moines Iowa, March 15th, 1880. Her family came to Grinnell in 1883. She graduated from the Grinnell High School in 1897 and from Grinnell College in 1902.

She was married to Keith W. Blow Christmas, December 25, 1907.

She died October 15, 1913, aged 33 years and seven months.

Mr. and Mrs. Blow had spent the last summer in Montana, reaching home on October 12.

She leaves to mourn her loss her husband and her father and mother and grandmother, her three brothers, Carter, John C. and Charles M., and many friends.

Her sudden death is a great shock to the community who symathize deeply with the bereaved ones.

As we gather here to pay a token of respect to the memory of the departed we can not, I think, escape the lesson taught us by the sudden and unexpected death of our friend. "Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." (Matt. 24:44).

As I stood by the grave of a neighbor and was about to leave the place a friend said to me, "When I die I wish you to conduct my funeral services." My reply was, "I do not expect to be alive then. You will need to get some one else."

Yet who knows? The one who made the request in good faith will probably be alive many years after my life will end. Yet how many comparatively young die while those much older live on.

It once happened to me to be called to attend the funeral of a young man killed by lightning while engaged in his usual vocation. Is it not better to leave the issues of life and death in the hands of Him with whom we have to do? I know of one whose daily prayer has been for years that God would take away the life prolonged many years beyond the three score and ten.

If we had the choice to have our life ended suddenly or live on, to suffer with some lingering disease incurable and hopeless, while sympathizing friends watch and wait, unable to help us, for the inevitable end, which would you or I choose? Is it not better to have the matter as it is in the knoweldege and power of our Heavenly Father and trust Him to direct the issues of our lives? It is not legitimately a matter for our choice.

Our departed one had unusual opportunites. She was here for 30 years. She grew up in a cultured community in school and college. There were many ways in which she could be useful as an only daughter in a home where her father for many years had a wide experience in public affairs and frequently was called away to do business in which she could aid him and also herself become acquainted with the needs of the public. She will be much missed in this home and by her husband.

It was my privilege to be one of her teachers in college. She was always respectful and earnest in her work. I do not recall a single instance during her college course of any misconduct on her part.

It is a pleasant task for a teacher "in loco parentis" to have such young people in his classes.

A few days before Christmas in 1907 Mr. Blow and Miss Manly called at my home and invited me to officiate at their marriage. It was a plasure to me that I was selected to sanction their union as husband and wife nearly six years ago. It was indeed a merry Christmas in 1907. It was a short time ago that Mr. Blow spoke to me as we chanced to meet upon the street, of his high regard for his excellent wife.

How impossible would it be to enjoy the pleasures and comforts of our lives if we could turn over the page of our life history and read the record before it comes to pass. There is a divine philosophy for our lives which I would commend to every one here today. The meaning of Christmas which we celebrated in this home nearly six years ago is that we have a Savior Almighty to save. If we accept Him as our Friends and follow Him our lives will be safe in His care. Trust Him and serve Him, then all things shall work together for good. We shall face every crisis in our lives and life's inevitable end, death itself, as one of the all things in store for us.

Death will be but the door to an immortal life in the presence of our divine Lord.

If I had the power of an attorney to care for the interests of every soul here not a day should pass before the compact should be made and every one would be safe.

While I am saying this some of you are saying to yourselves, "I do not believe it." That is the trouble and the peril of your immortal souls. Acts 16: 30-31: "What must I do to be saved? Believe oh the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house." Let me assure you that endless life is offered to each one of us. God help us not to miss the transcendent boon of immortal life.