Randall, Nellie May 1865-1908

RANDALL, WOLCOTT, DEE, HAYS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/24/2012 at 22:11:58

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; March 3, 1908

MRS. C.F. RANDALL

Nellie May Wolcott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Wolcott, was born November 6, 1865, in Illinois, and died February 24, 1908, at her home in Chester township, aged 42 years, 3 months and 18 days.

She was the second of a family of nine children, three of whom, together with the parents, passed on before. The five remaining are Charles and Walter Wolcott and Mrs. Harry Dee of Sheridan township, Mrs. W.J. Hays of Chester township and Dr. Ernest Wolcott of Oregon, Ill.

On January 5, 1887, at her parents' home at Sheridan she was united in marriage to C.F. Randall. Soon after they removed to Nebraska, where they lived for eight years. Except for eight months residence in Missouri they have since resided in Iowa.

To them were born four children. The eldest, Charles, aged 20; Mae, aged 18; Raymond, aged 14; and Nellie Marie, who died in infancy.

When but a child about 11 years old, she gave her heart to the Savior and united with the Sheridan M.E. church during the pastorate of Rev. A.V. Kendrick. Her present church home is with the Sonora class. She was also a faithful member of the W.H.M.S. and of the Ladies' Aid Society.

She was among the most regular attendants at Sunday school, the Sunday morning preaching service, and the class-meeting where she was always ready to take part and add her word of testimony to the goodness of her Savior, and of her faith in Him.

She was a faithful wife, a devoted mother and a kind neighbor. Many in this community will miss her presence and kindly ministrations in times of sickness.

Mrs. Randall always had a strange fear that if she became afflicted with measles she would not recover. A few weeks ago the sons were taken with this disease. The mother nursed them back to health, but on February 5th took to her bed with the same malady.

From the first her suffering was severe as this aggravated an old bronchial trouble. This soon developed into capillary bronchitis.

Friends did all they could to allay her sufferings. A trained nurse was secured; three physicians were consulted, but in spite of all this the end came Monday, February 24, at 11 a.m.

Always an industrious and hardworking woman and with large plans for the future, God in his infinite wisdom knew best. He has seen fit to take her from her scenes of toil. Her burdens are rolled away. She has passed on where sickness and sorrow, pain and death cannot come. There she awaits the glad reunion with loved ones left behind.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 26, at Sheridan M.E. church, where she was converted over thirty years ago, and interment was made in Sheridan cemetery. The services were conducted by her pastor, Rev. A.W. McBlain.

A large gathering of friends paid their last tribute of respect and the high esteem in which she was held was manifested by the unusually large number of flora offerings, so many that they could not nearly all be taken to the church.

Among the beautiful flora offerings were some from Sonora M.E. church, Chester Center Cemetery association, and Sonora Queen Esther circle.