Decatur, Mary Elizabeth 1884-1961

DECATUR, FUSS, HARPSTER, CLYNCH, NORRIS, GRAVES

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 4/10/2013 at 14:39:38

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
November 20, 1961

MRS. C.H. DECATUR
DIES SUDDENLY
WEDNESDAY MORN

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Decatur, 76, Grinnell, wife of Clarence Decatur, died suddenly early Wednesday morning at a local hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday from the Smith Funeral Home with Dr. G.S. Bruland, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating. Those desiring may contribute to the Methodist church building fund.

Organ music will be by Mrs. Rhee Auman. Serving as pallbearers will be Isadore Berman, A.J. Blakely, Chester Hummel, Wilbur Molison, Harold Stanley and Rolla Whitaker. Interment will be in Hazelwood cemetery.

Born in Chester township on Dec. 27th, 1884, she was the daughter of Denie Fuss and James Wilson Harpster. She attended Grinnell high school and graduated with the class of 1901. Following her schooling, she taught in the Westfield and Grant rural schools.

On June 21st, 1905, she was united in marriage with Clarence Henry Decatur and to this union one daughter was born, Ruth V. Decatur, now of Waterloo.

Mr. and Mrs. Decatur made their home on a farm south of Grinnell for many years. She was honored as a Master Farm Homemaker for 30 some years, was a member of the Drummond Club, the Methodist church, and the W.S.C.S. of the church.

Mrs. Decatur was preceded in death by her father in 1927 and her mother in 1933. A brother, Jessie, died in infancy and a sister, Mrs. Sarah Mae Clynch in July of this year.

She is survived by her husband, Clarence; her daughter, Ruth; and two sisters, Mrs. Raymond Norris of Grinnell and Mrs. G.B. Graves of El Paso, Tex.