McCRARY, Rachel: Died 1934

MCCRARY, BRANNIN, DUCKWORTH, JORGENSEN

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/21/2014 at 08:36:16

**Handwritten: KEO REP 7 JUNE 1934

TRIBUTE TO RACHEL McCRARY-BRANNIN

It is hard to realize that Rachel, my Step-Mother, and friend of all who knew her, is dead.

It is hard to bear the pain of our sorrow that we will never see her in life again.

How much more comforting and how much more like Rachel is the following verse:
"I cannot say, and I will not say
That she is dead-she is just away
With a cherry smile and a wave of the hand
She has wandered into an unknown land."

Rachel had lived long among her friends in Keosauqua, and they loved her with a feeling of personal friendship, as well as admiration because of her sterling qualities and great ability in what ever position she filled. I cannot name all of her worth-while characteristics; but who that knew her could ever forget her lovely companionship and devotion to her Father, the former Mr. W.A. Duckworth; or forget her capable domestic qualities in continuing the welcoming and hospitable home so well established by her mother, or forget her motherly interest in her brothers, and the tender love for her younger brother, Lewt.

Then the time when Al came home with a little motherless baby, and Rachel with her happy, sunny disposition, and great heart accepted these new duties, caring for the little helpless one as tho' it were her very own.

He marriage to my Father, the late Oscar McCrary, and their supreme happiness, and her more than perfect and complete wifehood. Her position as my Step-Mother, a position hard at best to fill; yet she succeeded in this completely. Never once was there an unkind word spoken between the two, never a real difference of opinion; but much careful advice of great wisdom was passed on to me. She has influenced, benefited and made happier my entire life.

With her great love of Home and her willingness to make of Home all that it should be, she brought much happiness to her last companion, Mr. G.M. Brannin.

I have written a great deal, but it seems that I have left out all of the important records of her life. Her long and faithful membership in the Congregational church. Her fifty years service as singer in the same choir. Her great help, pleasure and comfort to the community from her beautiful voice and piano talents, which she so freely gave. Her long record as an active member of the Orders of Eastern Star and of the P.E.O.

There is no measurement in this world large enough to measure the good, the cheer, the inspiration and the comfort given by her happy disposition, or her cheery "Hello", or the farewell wave of her hand.

All enjoyed her wit, and mirth and her keen sense of humor; and the merry ring of her laughter will be forever in our memory.

Rachel can never be dead to us. "She is just away."

Mrs. Carrie McCrary Jorgensen
Aberdeen Miss.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book D, Page 49, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA