John Drake WILLEY

WILLEY, THOMAS, JACKSON, MILLER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/4/2009 at 16:05:24

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1923

DEATH of JOHN D. WILLEY.

John D[rake]. WILLEY was born March 3, 1848, in Noble county, Ohio, and died March 17, 1923, at his home in Mount Ayr, Iowa, aged seventy-five years and fourteen days. At the age of fourteen he came to Iowa, where he has since resided with the exception of a few years spent in Missouri. For a few years he resided on a farm near Watterson prior to moving to Mount Ayr forty-one years ago. Soon after moving to this city he became affiliated with the Church of Christ.

February 3, 1879, he was married to Martha M. THOMAS at Union Star, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. WILLEY celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1920. Mrs. WILLEY died January 26, 1921. To the union were born nine children, all of whom are living except Bessie Laura Ellen who died July 15, 1899. The living children are Lizzie (Mrs. Eugene JACKSON), Boone, Iowa; Fannie (Mrs. W. H. LONG) Mount Ayr; Joseph L., Des Moines; Frank S., Mount Ayr; Willard R., Mount Ayr; Willis R., Hillyard, Wash.; Edward H., Arnolds Park, Iowa; John Basil, Mount Ayr.

Deceased was a man of great physical strength and during his long residence in the county, until the last years of his life, was employed as a contractor. He was known as a conscientious workman.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at two o'clock from the home in east Mount Ayr, conducted by Rev. Edgar PRICE, pastor of the Church of Christ, and the interment was in Rose Hill cemetery [Mount Ayr].

NOTE: John's wife, Martha Marie (THOMAS) WILLEY was born in Ray County, Missouri on June 17, 1852, the daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (MILLER) THOMAS. She died in Mount Ayr on January 26, 1921 with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008