Mary Barnes

BARNES, SHIRLEY, RUSH, CRAWFORD, MCCRIGHT, TROWBRIDGE, LEEDOM

Posted By: Sue R. (email)
Date: 3/27/2015 at 01:36:32

Ottumwa tri-weekly courier, January 20, 1916

Mrs. Mary Barnes.
Mary Shirley was born in Ireland in
1846. She came to this country in her
childhood and settled in Wapello coun-
ty when she was but ten years of age.
She made her home in Ottumwa during
the greater part of her life. In 1862 she
was united in marriage to Jackson
Rush and to this union there were born
six children of whom two daughters
survive her.
Mr. Rush died in 1885 and she was
married again in 1888 to Jasper New-
ton Barnes. Mr. Barnes preceded her in
death in 1900. In 1896 one of her
daughters, Mrs. Alonzo Crawford
passed away, leaving a little family of
children, the youngest of them being
but six weeks of age. Mrs. Barnes de-
voted herself to the raising of this
family of children for nearly twenty
years, making her home with her son-
in-law, Alonzo Crawford. Though
small of stature and rather frail of
body she lived a life of singular devo-
tion to her task.
Her happy smile and gracious man-
ner lighted up many a sick room in the
neighborhood where she lived. She
never seemed to be too tired or weary
to do something for some one else.
She was wonderfully sustained in her
life by her faith in Jesus Christ, her
Lord and Saviour. About twenty years
ago she was baptized and united with
the United Brethren church.
About two years ago she had a slight
stroke of paralysis, but she was up and
doing the housework until about two
days before her death. She was really
sick only two days and when the old
year of 1915 had nearly run its course,
at 11:30 on the last day of the old
year, she passed away to be with
Jesus.
She is survived by two daughters,
Mrs. J. C. McCright and Mrs. Earl
Trowbridge, both of Ottumwa, and one
sister, Mrs. Catherine Leedom of this
city and John Shirley of Kansas City,
Mo., a brother. Also twenty grandchil-
dren and fifteen great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted Jan. 2 by
Rev. Carl A. Montanus of the East End
Presbyterian church from the home of
her son-in-law Alonzo Crawford, 2036
Emma street. Interment in Shaul cem-
etery.--Contributed.