Cleola McSurely

MCSURELY

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 1/31/2002 at 18:36:46

A Sad Death

One of the saddest deaths we have ever been called upon to chronicle was that of Cleola, daughter of Jas. McSurely, which occurred at the home north of this city last Friday morning at about 5:30. The young lady had been ill during the night, and in fact, had never been very strong, and as the new day was breaking over the hills that had become dear to her through long association, she passed to the beyond, where the mother was waiting to receive what in this life was her most precious possession.

Cleola was just passing from girlhood into womanhood and gave promise of more than common attractiveness, her retiring disposition rendering her slow in winning friendships, but when once formed, the warm regard is lasting. And so it was in school as well as social life. Among her schoolmates she was loved sincerely and all mourn the untimely end with deep sadness.

Cleola was born in this city eighteen years ago the 9th of last June and has resided continually in this neighborhood. She was an only child and as such was the center of her parents’ life and every effort was made to gratify her whishes and render the childhood days full of happiness and contentment. And in this they succeeded.

But a great grief was in store for her, the death of the loving mother, which occurred some four years ago, and the mantle of sadness which enveloped her at that time never seemed to entirely leave her, despite the efforts of the father, who endeavored to coax back the cheerfulness of other days by showering her with all that one could desire. Between the father there existed an unusually deep attachment, but it seemed that she was unable to reconcile herself to the loss of the mother and this fact as well as others contributed strongly to the final dissolution, which has saddened a beautiful home and left a fond father heartbroken and weary with the rough road which is now too be traveled alone to the end of the journey.

When the news of the death came to the city Friday morning we were enabled to go to the home shortly after through the courtesy of Dorsey Sherman and found several kindly neighbors in charge of the body while Mr. F.M. Hunter, who had been called to the Trebilcock home, a short distance away, was doing what he could to reconcile the father to the terrible loss, and it was from the latter that we gleaned the facts leading up to the end.

It seems that in the night Cleola was taken violently ill and the usual restoratives were resorted to, but this was promptly vomited up. Later another dose of the medicine was taken and when she seemed easier, the father stated that he would go out and attend to some of the morning duties, promising to return soon. On leaving he admonished the young lady to rest quietly which she was doing when he took his departure.

Mr. McSurely was gone some fifteen minutes, probably, and then returned to the house to inquire as to her progress and the awful chock can be imagined when, on entering the sitting room he found the lifeless form of the loved one lying on the floor, a small blue hole in the right temple from which the lifeblood was slowly oozing, and a rifle lying near telling plainly the tragic end. He at once called Mr. Hunter, and the coroner was notified and at nine o’clock he came and empanelled a jury, who viewed the surroundings and then gave their verdict.

And, again, the death may have been the result of accident, viz: the medicine taken, relief came and the lady may have gone to the lower story in search of something and in moving the rifle, which was a familiar companion and which was standing conveniently near, the gun may have been accidentally discharged – and we are inclined to this more charitable belief.

Be that as it may – the young life is ended and gloom rests heavily in the home which depended largely on her presence for its sunshine.

The funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2:30, in charge of Rev. Perkins, assisted by Rev. Thorn, and the beautiful ceremony was full of consolation and hope for the bereaved father and relatives.

The remains were laid to rest in the Purdom cemetery, a delegation of her school friends acting as pall bearers and honorary escort.

Source; Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings