Alice Amelia (Heisey) Pickford (1866-1946)

HEISEY, PICKFORD, YOUNTZ

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/13/2014 at 18:22:53

From Nevada Journal May 29, 1946

Last Rites for Mrs. Chas. Pickford Saturday Afternoon

Funeral services fro Mrs. Chas. Pickford, 80, long time resident of Nevada, were held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Nevada Evangelical church and attended by friends she had known and loved her during the years, and those who had known her more recently and had learned to appreciate her very fine Christian qualities. Rev. W. R. Tarr officiated at the last rites.

The Reverend Raymond Russell of Colo sang the hymns. The entire service was planned by the deceased.

The committal was in the Nevada cemetery by the side of her husband who passed away October 1945.

The pall bearers were Rev. Theodore Yackel of Hubbard; Rev. C. R. Frankhauser of Des Moines; Rev. Raymond Russell of Colo; Cyril Stratton, Wm. Shickell and J. A. McDaniel.

The following obituary was read at the funeral service:

Alice Amelia Heisey, daughter of Henry and Susanna Heisey, was born at Monticello, Iowa, on May 19, 1866. She passed away at her home in Nevada on May 24, 1946, at the age of 50 years and 5 days.

Alice Heisey grew to womanhood in the vicinity of Lisbon, Iowa. On April 8, 1897 she was united in marriage to Rev. Charles Pickford at Colo, Iowa, a minister of the Evangelical church, who passed away on October 22, 1945. Her marriage to this noble servant of God marked the beginning of a long and busy career as a "mother" in the parsonage. This service of love continued for forty years.

One son, Paul, was born to this home. One step-daughter, Ethel, shared the richness and warmth of this mother.

Mrs. Pickford took a great deal of delight n the many pleasantnesses show her by her children. One could not help but feel the warmth of the fine Christian spirit in this home. It was frequently said by the people on the fields of labor which they served, "One could tell they loved the Lord by the way they loved and served Him."

Mrs. Pickford was deeply interested in the work of the Women's Missionary Society of the Evangelical church. She served as branch president for five years, and was a delegate to the biennial meeting of the Woman's Department of the Missionary Society on two occasions. She had many blessings from these inspirational meetings.

Her interest in the Mission Band and Sunday School in the local churches of her ministry could not be surpassed. These organizations showed an increase in membership and interest because of her work and prayers.

Her neighbors spoke kind words about her. She had a deep spirit of appreciation for all acts of kindness shown her.

She shared generously of that which was within her power to give. She shared more than the common things of life in that she was always ready to give a cheery word of encouragement and strengthened it with a promise of prayer. Her faith in Christ was her strength from day to day. It was the happiness of her life.

Her prayers were constant for the church and the coming of Christ into the ways of men. Many blessings came to the church because of her faithfulness in prayer.

Mrs. Pickford was the last living member of her family. There were five brothers and five sisters all of whom have preceded her in death.

She is survived by her son, Paul of Denver, Colorado, her step-daughter, Mrs. Ethel Yountz of Des Moines, Iowa. There are four grandsons, one great grandchild, several nephews and nieces, besides many friends, who will hold her in high esteem.

The Nevada Evangelical church is giving a cash memorial to be used as a memorial to the Women's Missionary Society.