Clara Belle Signs (1887-1945)

SIGNS, WILEY, DODD, FERGUSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/8/2020 at 22:50:22

From Nevada Evening Journal March 7, 1945 (page 6)

Final Rites Held Saturday for Clara B. Signs

Cambridge, Mar. 6--Funeral services for the late Clara B. Signs, Junior High teacher of the Collins Cons. School, who passed away Thursday forenoon, Mar. 1, 1945, at the Lutheran hospital in Des Moines, were held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Collins Church of Christ. The Rev. Duane Manning of the Methodist Church, assisted by the Rev. George Adkins of the Church of Christ, conducted the services.

Miss Bette Buck, music supervisor, and Miss Myrtle Fenn with Mrs. Irene Browns at the piano sang two songs, "The Old Rugged Cross", and "Good Night--Good Morning." Miss Buck sang "Going Home" as a solo. The singers and accompanist were members of the school faculty.

The altar was banked with beautiful flowers, mute testimony of the love and esteem in which she was held by the school, the organizations to which she belonged and her friends. They were arranged at the church and grave by Miss Helen Barger, Mrs. Ethel Shatwell and Mrs. O. N. Serbein.

The O. E. S., the High School and Junior high pupils, the present and former faculty members, as well as relatives, were seated in reserve sections. High school boys assisted by their instructor, Wendell Wescoat, acted as the ushers and found places for the very large crowd within the church.

The burial ceremony of the Order of the Eastern Star was given at the church as a final tribute of esteem and honor. Interment was in Evergreen cemetery by the side of her parents. School board members, L. D. Holland, D. W. Hubbard, C. E. Fish, C. W. Keagle, Ernest Hofer and Supt. R. A. Long, acted as pall bearers. The following brief obituary was read at the services.

Clara B. Signs, daughter of the late John and Mary Wiley Signs, was born south of Mingo in Jasper Co., May 24, 1887, and departed this life at the Lutheran hospital in Des Moines Thursday forenoon, March 1, 1945. In her girlhood she moved with her parents to Collins where she entered high school and graduated. Later she attended Drake University and Highland Park College in Des Moines to prepare herself for the teaching profession. After teaching two years in the country schools of this vicinity she accepted a position as seventh and eighth grade teacher in the Collins Public school, remaining in the capacity for approximately thirty-five years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and baby sister, and her closest relatives are her three aunts Mrs. Belle Dodd of Collins, Mrs. Clara Signs of Ira and Mrs. Gertrude Ferguson of Osceola, Missouri.

Early in life she identified herself with the church being a member first of the Church of Christ and later transferring to the Methodist church. She was a member of Collins Chapter No. 134 Order of the Eastern Star and served two years as Worthy Matron of the order.

Her greatest interest in life was the school, and she became widely known for her teaching ability. Countless young people will deeply mourn her passing and will cherish her memory throughout their lives.