Mary Etta (Watkins) Pritchard (1860-1943)

WATKINS, JONES, PRITCHARD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Nevada Evening Journal April 19, 1943 (page 4)

Final Rites Held At Maxwell For Pioneer Woman

Maxwell, April 19--Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Etta Pritchard, widow of the late Wm. Pritchard, were held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church, in charge of her pastor, the Rev. John C. Turner with Mrs. Gerton Nelson at the piano. A mixed quartette composed of Harry Fackler, Mrs. Harold Mohler, Mrs. H. C. Larson and Martin H. Troup sang "Rock of Ages," "Son of My Soul," and "Home of the Soul." The floral tokens were many and most beautiful, carried and arranged by Calla Wood of Collins and Gladys Wood of Maxwell.

During the rites the pastor read the following brief life sketch.

"Mary Etta Watkins was the second child in the family of three daughters born to Walter and Anne Jones Watkins, near Middle Grove, Saratoga county, N. Y., her birthday being November 20th, 1860. When ten years of age she, with her parents and two sisters came to Nevada, Iowa, hoping to improve the health of the youngest child, Harriet Janis. They lived in Nevada about one year during which time the parents purchased farm land and built a home about 3 1/2 miles east of the present town of Maxwell. Here the daughters grew to young womanhood. The eldest, Anne, passed away when just a young woman of seventeen years.

"On July 8th, 1876, Mary Etta was married to William Pritchard and they moved just across the road from the parents home to the home her husband had prepared for her and upon this farm they spent their entire married life, rearing six of the seven children born to them, one child, a son dying in infancy.

"She was a faithful member of the Methodist Protestant church of Collins, and only changed her membership when the Methodist churches emerged. She stayed close to her home church and family, giving them her very best until frailty of body kept her from doing the mission which were very dear to her.

"She was a good friend, a kind neighbor and loyal devoted wife and mother, who will be greatly missed by her family.

"After her long illness and failing health she passed away at her home in Maxwell Monday April 12, 1943 at the age of 82 years, 4 months and 22 days.

"Those surviving are her five sons and one daughter, namely Alva, Roscoe and Edyth of Maxwell, Flavius on the home farm, Orpheus of Denver, and Dr. William of Los Angeles, also thirteen grandchildren, two of which are step grandsons and eight great grandchildren She will be greatly missed by her many friends who loved her and will cherish her memory.

Burial was made in the family lot in the Iowa Center cemetery.