Harry Lee French (1888-1945)

FRENCH, PHELPS, HARDING, OTTO, HARRIS, WARD, STOOKEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal August 16, 1945 (page 4)

Funeral Service For Harry Lee French Held On Saturday

Funeral service for the late Harry Lee French of Colo, 56, native of Story county who passed away at the home of his son, Kenneth French, in Nevada, on August 7, from a heart attack was held from the Morfoot Funeral Home in Nevada Saturday afternoon at 2:30 with the Reverend George Adkins of the Collins Christian church assisted by Reverend Richard Dawson, Nevada Church of Christ, officiating.

Mrs. Ivan Mullihan and Mrs. Kate W. Tomlinson of Collins sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Whispering Hope." Mrs. Stone of Collins was organist.

The floral offerings were many and beautiful testifying to the high regard felt for the deceased and the sympathy felt for his family and other relatives.

The casket bearers were Ivan Mullihan, Robert Manship, Ben Ackerman, Archie Borts, Floyd Oswalt and Fred Chitty. Committal was in the Murphy cemetery at Fernald.

The sudden death of Mr. French on Tuesday, Aug. 7, came as a distinct shock as he had been making very satisfactory recovery at the home of his son from injuries sustained a few weeks before when he fell from a load of hay at his farm south of Colo.

The following brief life story of the deceased was read at the funeral service:

"Harry Lee French was born in Richland township September 4, 1888 and passed away August 7, 1945, at the age of 56 years, 11 months and 3 days. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Clark French. In 1910 he went to Montana and homesteaded and was married to Theo Phelps December 4, 1912 at Redstone, Montana. They made their home there until 1934 when they came to Iowa where he spent the rest of his life.

"He is survived by his wife, Theo, and five children, Kenneth Lee of Nevada; Elwood, who is in the United States Army; Ivadell, Mrs. Ray Harding of Ames; Sylvia, Mrs. Ernest Otto of Nevada; and Beverly, at home. Also three brothers and three sisters: Hugh of Plentywood, Montana; Earl of Wyocena, Wisconsin; and Guy of Nevada; Lucy, Mrs. Alva Harris of Maxwell; Verna, Mrs. Fay Ward; and Mabel, Mrs. Clark Stookey, both of Nevada and by five grandchildren."

Among those from a distance here for the last rites were:

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh French, of Plentywood, Mont.; Earl French, Wyocena, Wis.; Mrs. E. E. Phelps, Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Phelps, Mr. and Mrs. H. Hulthen, all of Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, Des Moines.

The son, Pvt. Elwood French, U. S. Army, who was re-called from the west coast was also here for the funeral service.