James Edgar Bedford (1885-1947)

BEDFORD, GUNNERSON, BURGETT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal August 6, 1947 (page 6)

Last Rites for James E. Bedford Held in Colo

Colo, Aug. 6--Funeral services were held Sunday at 12:30 p.m. for Mr. James Edgar Bedford at the Colo Methodist church. The Reverend Alfred Schneck, pastor of the Colo Methodist church officiated. Following the services at Colo, the funeral cortege drove to Gowrie, Iowa, former home of the Bedfords, where services were held at the Gowrie Methodist church at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Johnson and Rev. Sharp officiating.

Mark E. Wilson and Paul Henry, accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Gladys McIntosh, sang two numbers, "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" and "Abide with Me." At Gowrie music was furnished by a mixed quartet.

The beautiful floral pieces were arranged and cared for at Colo by Mrs. May Perry and Mrs. Olive Danielson. At Gowrie, they were arranged by the church flower committee.

Casket bearers at Colo were: Frank Hall, Mr. Halsted, Henry Jones and Omar Farren. At Gowrie the casket bearers were Francis Schwandaman, Frank Rhodes, Harry Dessiner, Edd Garard, and James Karnes.

The following is the obituary read at the services.

James Edgar Bedford
James Edgar Bedford, eldest son of Willis W. and Martie C. Bedford, was born in Union county, Iowa, Dec. 7 1885. After receiving his early schooling in Madison county, Iowa, the family moved to West Bend where he completed his education.

He was reared in the Christian faith of the United Presbyterian church and later in life was affiliated with the First Methodist church at Gowrie.

He was united in marriage in March 1911 to Ella M. Gunnerson of Gowrie, Iowa. To this union five children were born G. Royal of Callender, James Edgar Jr., who preceded him in death, Dorothy Frances at home, Mrs. Blossom Burgett of Boone, and J. Robert of Boone.

He started farming in Webster county in 1913 continuing in that county for 26 years, whereupon the family moved to Greene and Dallas counties. The last three years of his life were spent at the present home near Colo in Story county.

As a boy and man he was a hard and willing worker, lending a hand voluntarily or wherever called upon by friends and neighbors. He did not realize his condition until the spring of 1947 yet he seemed unable to slow his pace. He did not feel well the fore part of the week and became quite ill Thursday afternoon. Knowing his time was short he passed away at 3:00 p.m. July 31, 1947.

Left to mourn his loss besides his wife, family and four grandchildren, are two brothers and one sister: Leroy Bedford of Barnes City, Iowa, Lawrence Bedford of Des Moines and Maud Bedford of Joplin, Mo. One sister, Lura, preceded him in death in 1943.

Burial was in the family lot at Gowrie.