Wiley, Florence Elizabeth 1874-1930

WILEY, HAYES, HURD, GRIFFITH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/7/2011 at 13:56:41

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Jan. 7, 1930

MRS. JAMES WILEY CALLED BY DEATH

Florence Elizabeth Hayes Wiley was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., July 26, 1874.

She came with her parents to Scott county, Iowa, in 1878, later coming to Poweshiek county, near Sheridan. She was united in marriage with James Wiley, Feb. 11, 1896.

To this union three children were born, Mrs. Grace Hurd, Austin, Minn., Eva of Mason City, and Harry, who resides at home in Grinnell.

She was of a happy disposition and never desired to be a trouble to any one and none of her many friends were ever any trouble to her. She was always ready at any time to go and help any one, forgetful of her own strength and condition, was a patient sufferer, and sometime during the early hours of Friday morning she closed her eyes to the things of earth to open them in the glory world. While the family and community receive such a shock that can be given by no other loss, to know her was to love her, and the large company who assembled at the home Sunday afternoon to pay their respects to her and to sympathize with the bereaved family spoke louder than words as to her place in their affections and love. As they gazed upon that face from which all trace of pain had been removed the smile would enable all to say surely the imprint of angels was upon her brow, and would say to dear ones left, "Weep not for me. I am in a land where there is no weeping. Bind your selves to other friends and draw a little nearer to each other. Live faithful Christian lives and meet me in heaven."

The beautiful flowers brought by neighbors and friends so many of them said, "Florence we have loved thee and have appreciated the many kind acts, words and deeds and this is our testimony to you to all present."

The home was filled to overflowing Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by neighbors and friends with tears and sighs, where Rev. W.S. Kight, 665 140th Place, Des Moines, who performed the marriage ceremony and a long time friend of the family, spoke words of praise for her, expressed love and sympathy for the family and most earnestly pleaded with people to know each other better while here and to seek to pick the gold nuggets in the lives of each other and people in general so that the world will be made richer and better by our living in it.

Two beautiful and appropriate musical numbers were rendered by Cecil Myers, Wendell Lewis, Mrs. Leland Carter, Mrs. Bert Johnson with Miss Helen Ent as pianist, which added much to the services.

We note the friends who were from a distance: Herbert Bell, Jr., of Mason City; Mrs. Mary Sanders of Rock Island, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Griffith, Garland and Raymond Lamb, Mr. and Mrs. Conkher, Mrs. Miller, and Mr. and Mrs. Art Porter, all of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Hedges and daughter Alice of Cedar Rapids. They with husband and children, the mother, Mrs. George Hayes of Grinnell, a sister, Mrs. Margaret Griffith of Des Moines and one brother, John Hayes of Grinnell, are left to mourn the loss of a most kind and loving wife and mother.

The last scene is the beautiful cemetery amid the flowers where the casket was borne by near friends, William Peters, Wm. Bolen, George Murray, Everett Brown, Cliff Streck and H.L. Triplett, was laid to rest and the benediction was pronounced and sorrowing ones returned to their homes.