Ross, Nettie B. 1856-1910

ROSS, KEISTER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 7/29/2016 at 12:41:43

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Oct. 7, 1910

MRS. R.C. ROSS

There are some lives which are so sweet and beautiful that they surpass anything which may be said of them. Such was that of Mrs. R.C. Ross who passed quietly away on Monday morning after seven months of patient suffering.

Nettie B. Keister was born in 1856 in Jackson county, Iowa. A few years later her parents left their farm and moved to Clinton, Iowa, where she grew to beautiful young womanhood. She attended for a time Cornell College at Mount Vernon but did not graduate.

Thirty-two years ago she married R.C. Ross and for the past twenty-nine years her home has been in Grinnell.

Here she has lived her life; a loving and devoted wife and mother; a true friend; a generous neighbor; a noble Christian woman. The quality of the friendships she made was best demonstrated during her long illness, when every friend and neighbor was more than anxious to do anything possible to make the days of sickness pass less heavily. One son, George R. Ross of this city, and her husband survive her.

In a home made beautiful and fragrant by the floral offerings sent by many friends, the simple funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Professor L.F. Parker and Professor Charles Noble, friends of many years, spoke words of comfort to the assembled friends. A male quartet rendered appropriate music.

Mrs. Ross had been a member of the Drummond Club since its organization. She was its president last year and had been re-elected for the ensuing year. The members of the Club were present in a body and their husbands were designated as honorary pall bearers. The active pall bearers were J.M. McKarahan, A.A. Foster, W.J. Rapson, D.S. Morrison, E.E. Henely and G.H. Hamlin.

Interment was made in Hazelwood cemetery.

There were present the aged father, George Keister and sister, Charlotte, of Clinton, and three brothers, Rev. Benjamin Keister and wife, of Rockwell, Iowa, Charles Keiser and wife, of Mitchellville and Archie Keister, of Grinnell. There were also present from out of town Robert M. Ross, of Monmouth, Ill., and Mrs. A. Vander Melde, of Orange City, Iowa.