Alexander, John Emory 1879-1968

ALEXANDER, MCCULLOCH, MORGAN, JOHNSON, PHILLIPS, GUISSINGER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/13/2012 at 09:32:03

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Dec. 19, 1968

LAST RITES SAID
FOR J. ALEXANDER

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 18) at the Smith Funeral Home for Mr. John Emory Alexander, 89, of 712 Seventh Ave., who died Monday morning at Grinnell General Hospital East following a ten day illness.

The Rev. Ralph Beebe, interim pastor of the First Baptist church, officiated at the services, assisted by the Rev. Carl E. Kingsley of Norristown, Pa.

Mrs. R.J. Nash was organist. Pallbearers were Wilbur Eyestone, J.C. Parrott, Donovan Evans, William Greenwald, James McNally and Clair Strand. Flower bearers were Mrs. William Greenwald and Mrs. Mildred Jones.

Masonic rites were conducted by Hoyt Woody, past grand master of the Masons in Iowa, and members of Hermon Lodge No. 273, A.F. & A.M.

Burial was in the family lot at Hazelwood cemetery.

The son of Robert and Harriet McCulloch Alexander, Mr. Alexander was born Dec. 8, 1879, in Grinnell, one of a family of four boys. He attended the local Grinnell schools.

On Feb. 11, 1902, he married Carrie Morgan in Grinnell. The Rev. E.M. Vittum officiated at the ceremony. Two sons and three daughters were born to the couple.

Mr. Alexander owned and operated a real estate and insurance agency in Grinnell for many years. He was a member of the First Baptist church, the Knights of Pythias, and Hermon Masonic Lodge No. 273 since 1915. He had received his 50-year Masonic pin three years ago.

Survivors include two daughters--Mrs. George (Helen) Johnson of Grinnell and Mrs. Robert (Edith) Phillips of Valparaiso, Ind.; two sons--Paul Alexander of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Harold Alexander of Omaha, Neb.; one brother, Hugh, of Fresno, Calif.; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Alexander was preceded in death by his wife Carrie on April 9, 1960; one daughter, Mrs. Ruth Guissinger of Chester, Pa., who died Oct. 7, 1968; and two brothers, Wayne and Lonnie, both accidentally killed when they were young.