LESTER, Mrs. Linnie: 1854-1943

LESTER, CORRICK, MOORE, BLANKINSHIP, GOOD, WRAY, KINSINGER, COLVIN, GALPIN, THOMPSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 11/3/2013 at 05:29:00

OBITUARY
**Handwritten: 1943

Mrs. Linnie Corrick Lester

There is always sadness when death enters the home of our friends; yet there is a feeling of gratefulness when a long and useful life comes to its close in a beautiful, peaceful way. It is in this way, with her daughter and son-in-law at her bedside, that Mrs. Linnie Lester passed into the Great Beyond, on the beautiful morning of Saturday, August 28th, 1943.

Linnie Corrick was born in Ohio, on February 23d, 1854. She was the oldest of twelve children of Washington and Margaret Moore Corrick. When six years old, her parents moved to Missouri where they lived for a short time, then moved to Davis county, Iowa, where she spent the remainder of her life.

After her marriage to Alexander C. Lester, on the 16th of June, 1878, they moved at once into the home where they both passed away.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lester one child was born, a daughter Eva, who was a real pal to her father and a chum to her mother.

After Mr. Lester's death, on July 9th, 1925, Mrs. Lester kept some high school students in her home. To them she was always Ma Les.

In May, 1927, her daughter and husband moved into the home, where they have lived and have been her companions since.

Mrs. Lester was a lover of nature and a real botanist. Her flower garden was always a thing of beauty, as long as she was able to care for it. She loved to plant and tend her flowers and shrubs, then share their beauty with others. Many sick rooms have been made brighter and many friends have enjoyed beautiful blossoms because of her thoughtfulness.

Perhaps the outstanding characteristic of Mrs. Lester's life was doing for others. Throughout the years different ones have been taken into her home and cared for as her own. Each of them may truly call her blessed.

She became a member of the Christian church in her early married life and was active in all departments until failing health prevented her from taking part. Although unable to attend, she was always interested in and concerned about Church activities.

While not a member of any organizations, she did belong to and attend the meetings of the W.R.C., for many years.

There was no better informed person of her age in our community than Mrs. Lester. Having wonderful eyesight, she has been abled to read, keeping up on county, state and world affairs. Books, papers, and magazines helped her to pass what would have been many tiresome hours.

If a person is permitted to live to reach the eighties, his friends are very few, having mostly passed on. Not so with Mrs. Lester. She has had the faculty of making new friends throughout her life, from little children, on up through all ages, each enjoying a visit with her just as much as with some one of his own age. It was a joy and an inspiration to se children bringing gifts and visiting with her.

She very rarely left home after Mr. Lester's death, but on June 30, 1939, she went to visit friends in Fairfield. While there, she slipped on a rug and fell breaking her hip. Since that time she has been in bed unable even to turn. Throughout this time, she has been cheerful and uncomplaining, enjoying her relatives and friends, who by their many acts of kindness, their flowers, and other gifts, together with the care and devotion of her daughter and son-in-law, helped to shorten and make bright the four years of invalidism.

During this period, the death of her sister, Mrs. Stella Good, and the loss of other relatives and friends, were shocks, which took courage, faith, and prayer to overcome.

Mrs. Lester was 89 years, 6 months and 5 days. Besides her daughter Evan and her son-in-law, Clarence Blankinship, who she loved as a son, she leaves to mourn her departure two sisters and four brothers: Mrs. Allie Wray, Bloomfield; Geo. Corrick, Walnut Park, Calif.; Fred Corrick, Montour, Iowa; Mrs. Margaret Kinsinger, Peoria, Ill.; Grant Corrick, Almota, Wash.; and Roy Corrick, Benedict, Minn.

The sisters and brothers preceding her in death were Mrs. Emma Colvin, Mrs. Millie Galpin, Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, Mrs. Stella Good, and Milton Corrick.

Nieces, nephews, and friends feel that they have lost a wonderful aunt, a loyal friend, and a delightful neighbor.

"May I grow lovely growing old," as did Mrs. Lester. Frata Brown.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. L.R. Hudson assisted by Rev. A.M. Eastman at the Curl Funeral Home, Monday, August 30, at 2:30 p.m. Interment was in the I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 307, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA.