Kate Leggett ~ 1877-1911/12

LEGGETT

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 2/19/2002 at 10:30:18

Brave, patient, noble, loving Kate Leggett is dead and the home where for a brief time it seems, she has brightened by her presence is now saddened by the visitation of death. There is a vacant chair in the home, there are aching hearts and griefstricken friends.

The church and Sabbath school will see her no more, yet the memory of her beautiful life will remain as a benediction throughout all time.

Born in Mr. Sterling, May 29, 1877, she as a happy, healthy child added one more to the home treasury, one more to love and cherish in an affection that does not end with death.

She was ever an ambitious, industrious girl, looking after the affairs at home, ever planning to relieve her mother from household cares and bearing in silence her suffering to conceal her true feelings from anxious hearts. She was often employed at the central telephone, and here her excellent service brought her in touch with the public, who admired her for her efforts in that office and her kindly accomodating manner to every patron of the system. At the age of 13 she gave her heart to God and consecrated her life to His bidding. Rev. C.S. Wilson, the pastor, who taught her the way to eternal happiness. Coming to Vernon in 1895, she entered into the duties of her church and Sabbath school work, untireless in her desire to do His will, but often overtaxing her strength, which from the result of a fall had at that time developed serious spinal trouble causing intense suffering from which she was relieved by death, Saturday morning July 30, beloved by everybody and mourned when dead, the friend of all.

Kate's home was a byword in every home, the purity of her life and her affliction attracting to her innumerable friends, who recognized her true worth and her brave struggle for life and its duties. A worthy tribute to her memory was shown in the funeral service pronounced by her pastor, Rev. H. C. Druce, from the little church Sunday p. m., where so many happy hours had been passed in close companionship with the members of her church and Sabbath school.

Rev. Druce spoke consolingly, reviewing the beautiful traits of her character, the noble work in the church and community. Mrs. Daisy Murphy, superintendent of the Sabbath school lead the choir, Kate's place being vacant and the tear dimmed eyes spoke of the universal sorrow at her death.

The floral tributes were numerous and beautiful, emblems of love, that completely covered the casket and denoting the esteem in which whe was held.

The burial at the Vernon cemetery was under the auspices of the Rebekah Lodge of which she was a charter member, assisted by members of the Keosauqua lodge, joining in a tribute to this worthy sister and in the hush of the summer evening Katie was laid to rest beside a sister Neffie. Three brothers, Claudius and Ambrose of Galesburg, Ill., Earl, Chag Water, Wyo., the father and mother with many friends mourn the loss of this dear one.

Not now but in the coming years;
It may be in the Better Land
We'll read the meaning of our Tears
And there, sometime we'll understand.