Greer, Mary Jane 1854-1944

GREER, SPENCER, MADDEN, DEMPSTER, SHERMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 11/7/2016 at 07:32:56

The Herald-Register
Grinnell, Iowa
April 17, 1944

MRS. MARY J. GREER

Mary Jane Greer was the seventh child of Ellen Spencer and John Madden. She was born in Scott county, Sept. 28,1854, and died at the Rose Riley Nursing Home in Des Moines, April 9, at the age of 89 years, 6 months and 12 days.

She was one of eleven children. two brothers and two sisters were born in Liverpool, England.

Her parents were truly pioneers, spending three months on the high seas in a sailing boat. They landed at New Orleans, come up the Mississippi River to Davenport and across country seventeen miles to where they purchased a 200-acre farm from the Government and there built their home. It was there that Mary grew to womanhood.

On December 3, 1875, she married James Greer and they later bought a farm, where they lived until 1916, at which time they purchased a home in Davenport and retired from active work.

To this union two daughters were born, Mrs. John Dempster of Grinnell and Mrs. Frank Sherman of Altoona. She had two grandsons, Gaylord and Keith Dempster, and four great-grandchildren--Lynn and Janice, children of Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Dempster, and Keith and Rita Fran, children of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Dempster. One brother, George, of North Hollywood, Calif., and many nieces and nephews also survive. On Dec. 22, 1920, Mr. Greer died, and the following April Mrs. Greer came to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. John Dempster, and later spent part of the time with her other daughter, Mrs. Frank Sherman.

In earlier life, when she had her health, her main interests were her home and her church, and she always attended Sunday School when possible.

For the past fifteen years she has been an invalid, and the last five years confined to her bed.

Memorial services were held at the James Funeral Home, Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday the body was taken to Davenport for interment, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Dempster and their sons Gaylord and Keith, and Mrs. Frank Sherman of Altoona. Davenport relatives and friends gathered at the Oakdale cemetery. A brief grave side service was conducted by Rev. P.A. Johnson.

Music was furnished by Mrs. Keith Dempster and Mrs. Paul Peak.