John Silas Ayers (1863-1942)

AYERS, MATTHEWS, DAILEY, MORRIS, ELLIOTT, ELLIOT, MORRIS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal July 27, 1942 (page 3)

Funeral Services Held Here Sunday for Late John Ayers

Funeral services for the late John S. Ayers, 77, long-time resident of Story county, who passed away at his home on West Lincoln Way Friday afternoon, were held at the Nevada Evangelical church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

The large number in attendance, and the many beautiful floral offerings which completely banked the entire front of the church all testified to the respect and esteem felt for the deceased and his family.

Rev. Theo. Yackel, pastor of the church was in charge of the services. With Mrs. E. P. Schindler at the piano, Mrs. Yackel and Mrs. Kenneth Rapp sang "Going Down the Valley," and "We'll Never Say Goodbye." Chas. H. Hall, [line of gibberish in the original article] playing his own accompaniment, sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere."

The casket bearers were Frank H. Kinsman, W. W. Alexander, Paul Peterson, Fred W. Nelson, Wesley Huff and Floyd Unwin. Burial was in the Evergreen cemetery at Iowa Center.

The Obituary.

John S. Ayers, son of James and Hannah Ayers, was born on March 27, 1865, at Richland Center, Wis. As a small boy he came with his parents to Story county, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life, with the except of a few years, when he lived in Des Moines. The last thirty years he spent of the farm just west of Nevada, on Lincoln highway, where he passed away on Friday afternoon, July 24, 1942, after a lingering illness. He was the last surviving member of a family of six.

In 1891, on Feb. 23, he was united in marriage to Ellen Matthews. This union was blessed with seven children, three of whom preceded him in death, they being Mead, Lyman and Loren.

During these many years of residence in Story county, he gained many friends through his quiet and unassuming manner and his jovial disposition. He was ever ready to assist in any worthy cause.

During the many years that Mrs. Ayers was active in the W. C. T. U. work, he was always willing and ready to take her to the various places where this work called her. He was industrious, always finding something to do. He was good neighbor, ready to show his neighborliness in a practical way. He was a good father and a faithful husband. In 1909, while living in Des Moines, he affiliated with the Evangelical church, having taken a real interest in spiritual things.

He is survived by his wife Ellen; four children, Mrs. Hattie Dailey of near Ames, Mrs. Margaret Morris of Grand Island, Neb., Mrs. Mary Elliot of Waterloo and Lowell Ayers of Waterloo; ten grandchildren, William, Isaphene, Margaret Jane and Dorothy Jean Dailey, Chloe Morris, John David, James and Jo Ayers, and Colleen Elliott; one great grandchild, Susan Daily; other relatives and great host of friends.

In addition to all the members of the immediate families from here and elsewhere, with a large number of relatives and friends from Maxwell, Ames and other places in Story county, there was also in attendance Mr. and Mrs. George Nash of Des Moines, Ed Chaffin and Glen Chaffin and their families from Milford, Ia., and Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Wilcox of Marshalltown.