Lydia (Netterfield) Shaffer/Shafer (1863-1883)

SHAFFER, SHAFER, NETTERFIELD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/8/2015 at 18:13:55

From Nevada Representative October 24, 1883

In Memory of Our Beloved Lydia.

Mrs. Lydia E. Shafer, wife of James E. Shafer, died at her mother's house, near Cambridge, Story county, Iowa, June 21st, 1883, aged 20 years 8 months and one day. Just about midnight the morning of eternity dawned upon the spirit of our beloved Lydia, for the death angel came and bore far away the wife, mother, sister, child and loved one, across the cold waves of the river of death, and landed on the eternal shores. She leaves besides her husband and child, a mother, one sister, one brother, many relatives and many friends who could know her but to love her. Oh, how cruel sometimes seems the hand of death! He takes fro us the bud of promise, the opening rose, the full blown flower, and the one whose petals are beginning to fade and drop, but this time he plucked with his ruthless band the flower just as it opened into womanhood. The fragrance of a beautiful life has not departed, through the mortal remains of her of whom we speak have been laid to rest. To those who knew this dear one, and especially her more intimate friends, the memory of the pure, unselfish every day life of Lydia will be long remembered. As a mother she was all love and sacrifice; as a wife she was all devotion. In her childish days she was kind and obedient. There was much in her short life worthy of imitation. She was unselfish and amiable in disposition and genial in spirits.

Sister, do not weep,
Though Lydia sleeps her last long sleep;
There's a brighter world she sees;
Try and meet her by and by.

Brother, do not weep for her;
Though her smiles you do not see.
Though her voice be hushed forever,
You must try and meet her by and by.

Mother, cheer your broken heart;
Though it may be sad to part
There's a world where none e'er die;
Mother, you will gain it by and by.

Husband and child, don't despair;
Though her form no more in nigh,
You must meet her by and by,
In that distant land so fair.

Friends, companions, all, farewell;
She no more on earth will dwell.
Earth and earthly things farewell.
Heavenly pleasures sweeter are
Than your sensual joys, by far.

MRS. MIAMI NETTERFIELD.