Ferry, Homer L., 1906-1933

FERRY, PLOOSTER, LINE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

From the Alton Democrat, June 23, 1933:

HOMER FERRY SUCCUMBS TO HEART SHOCK
Alton Phone Mgr. Was Only 27 Years Old

Homer L. Ferry, manager for the West Iowa Telephone Co. of the Alton exchange during the past six months, died suddenly shortly after noon last Friday from heart attacks. He had been swimming in the sandpit pool north of town the afternoon previous to his death, and it is believed that the exertion may have hastened his death which came as a shock to his many friends here. His wife was stunned by his sudden passing.

Homer was only 27 years of age, and although he had joked with friends about his heart being none too good no one had the slightest inkling that he suffered from severe heart attacks. He was taken very ill Friday morning and nothing medical assistance could do seemed to ease the recurring attacks, the final one taking his life.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. Ferry, pioneers of Vermillion, S.D., he was born August 3, 1906 there, his parents having lived at Vermillion for 52 years. After graduating from the Vermillion high school he took up telephone work, coming here some six months ago from Sutherland, succeeding Frank Mehuron as manager of the exchange at Alton. Homer was a quiet young man of pleasing disposition, honest and faithful in his work. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge.

On December 19, 1930, he married Miss Alice Helen Plooster of Orange City, the ceremony taking place at Primghar, Iowa. He is survived by his wife and the baby, his mother, Mrs. Mable E. Ferry of Vermillion, and the following brothers and sisters: Orville, Reyborn, Mrs. LaVerne Spain and Irma, all of Vermillion, and a half brother, Elba Edminster, of Sioux Falls.

Funeral services were held at Vermillion on June 20, with Rev. Deer of the Baptist church in charge, interment taking place at Bluff View cemetery there.

Among those from away who were present at the funeral services were Mrs. L. J. Plooster and Cornie of Orange City; William Plooster of Maquoketa, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. VandeWaa, Misses Winnie Kamstra, Henrietta Faber and Kathryn Duistermars, all of Orange City; Miss Eva Hopkins, central telephone operator at Sutherland, and also a delegation of Odd Fellows from Sutherland.

Homer’s sudden passing cast a shadow over this community which had come to look upon him almost as a native son, and the heartfelt sympathy of all who knew him here goes out to the bereaved family.

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His death certificate gives his parents as Philip H. Perry, birthplace indistinct, and Mable Line, born Kearney, Nebr.; had spent 11 years as a telephone lineman; died at 12:30 p.m. June 17, 1933; cause, coronary thrombosis, onset Jan. 1933.

FimdaGrave.com gives his full name, Homer Lyle Ferry. His parents, Philip Henry Ferry (1877-1930) and Mabel Elise Line Ferry (1883-1944), and three of his siblings are listed, but no wife or child. A newspaper obituary (source not given) posted on the site contains information similar to that in the Alton Democrat.