Thomas Martin Dickens (1877-1942)

DICKENS, WARDER, DAVIDSON, OWENS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/2/2020 at 13:13:44

From Nevada Evening Journal March 7, 1942 (page 3)

Final Rites Held Here Friday for Thos. M. Dickens

Members of the immediate family, numerous relatives and friends from a distance and a large group of Nevada neighbors and friends gathered at the Morfoot Funeral home Friday afternoon at two o'clock to attend funeral services for the late Thomas M. Dickens, 73, who died at his home at 738 Ninth street, here early Tuesday.

The service was in charge of Rev. Jos. M. Kennedy of Central Presbyterian church, while H. G. Kruwell sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" with Mrs. Hathaway at the piano.

The pallbearers who assisted at the funeral home and the cemetery were John Hattery, Elmer Wendell, Oscar Hall, Lyle Baumgardner, Ellis Armstrong and Harry Sherk.

The floral offerings were many and most beautiful and indicated the high esteem in which the former Nevada business man was held in the community in which he had been a resident for nearly a quarter of a century. Burial was in the Nevada cemetery.

The following sketch of the life of the deceased was read by the minister during the service.

"Thomas Martin Dickens was the son of Malachi and Rebecca Dickens. He was born on a farm near Ottumwa, Iowa, on June 11, 1877, and as a young man, carried on his business in farming and the handling of farm properties.

"He was married on March 7, 1909, to Miss Lettie Warder of Bladensburg, Ia., and with her established their home near Bladensburg. Here they were affiliated with the Christian Church of Bladensburg and resided for some time, later moving to other locations in southern Iowa.

"One daughter was born into the family and through the years the family home was a happy one. Mr. Dickens was devoted to his wife and daughter and to his two grandchildren.

"The family moved to Nevada some twenty-four years ago and here Mr. Dickens engaged in the harness and farm implement business. He thus formed a large number of farmer-friends and carried on business until last September when he closed out his business interests in order to lead a less active life.

"Mr. Dickens was active in community affairs serving for twelve years on the city council as a valued council member. He was active in organizing the Indian Creek Gold and Country Club and served for term at President of that organization. He was also affiliated with the K. P. lodge and with other local organizations.

One brother, Orin Dickens, died about ten years ago. He is survived today by his wife, Mrs. Lettie Dickens, his daughter, Garnet, and her husband. Mr. Don D. Davidson; and by his two grandchildren, Diane and Thomas Davidson. Also surviving are his step-mother, Mrs. Ida Dickens of Eddyville, Ia., his half-brother, Milton Dickens of Hedrick, Iowa, his half-sister, Mrs. Alma Dickens Owens of Ottumwa; and his half-brother, Ray Dickens of Eddyville, Ia. These, with other relatives and friends, will remember him with loving and enduring remembrances.

"Mr. Dickens was regarded as a man of excellent character and of fairness and dependability, and was the kind of man who made many friends and who kept his friendships.

"Death came to him after a brief illness, complicated by a heart weakness, on Tuesday morning, March 3rd, 1942, at the age of 64 years.