Daisy Downing Bailey

DOWNING, BAILEY, RUBLE

Posted By: Chuck and Joy Hanson (email)
Date: 12/18/2006 at 22:16:12

Daisy Downing was born January 16, 1877, in Van Buren county on a farm near Leando, died in Billings, Montana, July 29, 1907, aged 30 years, 6 months and 13 days.

The family moved to Bentonsport 13 years ago. Daisy united with the M.E. church at Leando on probation, Rev. Breeden pastor, and was taken into full membership at Vernon during the pastorate of Rev. Weese. She was earnest and loyal in her church obligations. Hers was a joyful nature and whatever of sorrow entered her young life was born in patient submission. She presented to her loved ones always the joy and pleasures of each day as their beauties appealed to her finer sensibilities; to them she diffused the joy of living and often exclaimed “What a pretty world we live in.” Her oft expressed desire to die in the summer time was granted.

Daisy was among the first to enter homes of sorrow, possessing a natural ability to cheer and comfort.

In the family circle of ten, a family whose love for one another was idolatrous, an affection wielded by years of companionship, she was ever the brightest gem in the circlet of home treasures and the first to be called away, their cheerful bright eyed Daisy.

She was united in marriage to Gideon S. Bailey, Oct. 27, 1899, the union a most happy one. They resided at the old home in Vernon, until March 1906, at the solicitation of relatives they located at Billings, Montana and were delighted with their new home, she writing cheerfully of her happiness in Montana and had pleasant anticipations of a visit home in August, a desire to see a tiny niece, little Ivy Murphy, and her loved ones again being untrollable. Thus the news of her illness was entirely unexpected and came as a great shock to all. Later news of her death prostrated her loved ones who had looked for her home coming.

In her brief but fatal illness of peritonitis no doubt her whole being longed for the touch of a mother’s hand for none like a mother’s can drive away pain. No love like mother love ever was known, or for the voices of loved ones, and it is this phrase of her passing away that makes the sadness inexpressible. Far from home and loved ones yet He in whom she put her trust sustained her to the end, her devoted husband and kind friends supplied the last loving duties so far as possible.

She is survived by her husband and parents who are heartbroken, three sisters, Mrs. Lettie Murphy of Keokuk, Miss Iva at home, Mrs. Minnie Ruble, Bentonsport; four brothers, John and Ross of Davis county, Iowa, James of Minnesota and George of Rock Island, Ill., all in attendance on this sad occasion. Innumerable friends mourn the passing away of this beautiful life.

From the Mason Scrapbook owned by H.K. Redhead