Catherine Lucinda "Kittie" (Coe) Hawthorn (1862-1916)

COE, HAWTHORN, HAWTHORNE, SIDDELL, GILBERT

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

From Nevada Representative July 18, 1916 (page 1 continued to page 3)

OBITUARY

MRS. J. M. HAWTHORN.

J. M. Hawthorn in a personal letter from Salem, Oregon, makes the sad announcement that his wife passed away Tuesday, July 11, 1916, and was laid to rest in the Odd Fellows cemetery in Salem on the following day. He adds "while she had been poorly for nearly two years we thought she was gradually gaining. The immediate cause of death was apoplexy, with which she was stricken a few moment before 5 o'clock Tuesday morning. She had risen and dressed and was tying her shoes when she fell to the floor. I was in an adjoining room and heard her fall and heard Mildred scream. I got to her as quickly as I could and tried to raise her up. I was not strong enough to carry her to the bed but could raise her head and shoulders up till Ray came, which was soon but seemed long to me as I feared she was dead or dying. He gathered her up in his strong and young arms and placed her tenderly on the bed. In the meantime Mildred summoned the nearest doctor, who arrived in a short time and did for Mama all he could do but it was no use. He could get not response of any kind after an hour or more. He told us he had given her all the stimulant it was at all safe to give. He did not tell us there was no hope but it was easy to see he felt very seriously. In a short time our regular physician came and made a brief examination and the two doctors stepped into an other room and after a short consultation came back to her. I could see no hope in Dr. Fishers face and as he said nothing I asked if he thought she would ralley. He said, "no she can't live more than a few hours." While it was not so unexpected it was a terrible shock to us. We could scarcely make ourselves believe we must give her up.

"The next thing to do was to summon the girls. Alta has a phone but we were unable to reach her so phone to John Harper and one the boys ran out to Alta's on a bicycle and soon she and Mark were here. Carrie lives ten miles from our place and has no phone. Ray took his motor cycle and covered the distance in twelve minutes and in a very short time had her at her mother's bedside. We then had all the children with her but James, Jr. who lives in California. We watched her tearfully till one p. m. when she passed peacefully away and became united with her Bessie, and sweet memory to us. It is a great consolation to us that there was no suffering at the close of her life. She leaves only the memory of a noble life devoted to her home and family and to the best interests of those around her. She was loved by all who knew her.

"We had the funeral at the home and while the house room was wholly inadequate for the throng that came the funeral service was all that could be desired. The details beautifully carried out and the sermon by Rev. U. S. Stevens assisted by Rev. --- --- Jones was all that could be desired. He spoke so tenderly of her and absent son, who could not reach home in time to see her. During her whole life she always tried to have pretty floral piece to sent to every stricken family and I always felt that I would be terribly hurt if when her time came some one did not remember her with some nice floral pieces. My fondest hopes were more than realized for early Tuesday eve the floral pieces, grand and beautiful began to arrive. Every buggy and auto had it load and even at the grave numerous beautiful pieces arrived.

"Kittie L. Coe was born at Geneseo, Illinois, July 26, 1862, was married to J. M. Hawthorn November 27, 1879. Seven children were born, to wit: Alta (Mrs. Mark Siddell) of Salem, Oregon; Jas. F. of Los Angeles, California; Bessie who passed away at Nevada, Iowa, March 24, 1902; Mildred at home; Carrie (Mrs. Ralph Gilbert) of Salem, Oregon; Ray M. at home; Sidney 10 years at home."

Mr. Hawthorn's letter will be read among the old friends of the family with most profound regret, and his tribute to Mrs. Hawthorn will be recognized as wholly within her deserts. She was a woman endowed with the house-wife's capability and the spirit of motherly self-sacrifice. It will be noted that at her death she yet lacked fifteen days of being 54 years of age. She might well have been spared for many years of further usefulness; but her life was long enough to be full of good works and to win for her the warmest esteem of all who knew her.