Mrs. C.S. Harper (1877-1944)

HARPER, CHAMBERLIN, RAYNER

Posted By: John Davis (email)
Date: 1/28/2020 at 22:47:30

Obit posted in Ottumwa Courier January 1, 1944
Photo posted with obit
Mrs. Harper Is Taken By Death At 66
Mrs. Clarence S. Harper, 66, died at 9:10 a.m. today at the St. Joseph Hospital . Ill for more than a year but with recurring periods of recuperation. Mrs. Harper had spent many weeks of the past year in the hospital. Only this morning after breakfast she was making plans with her nurse to return Monday to her home at 917 North Court street. At 8 o’clock she suffered a stroke from which she failed to rally. For years Mrs. Harper had been one of Ottumwa’s leading women. She gave able assistance to many civic activities and was an active worker in the First Presbyterian church. She was a member of the Ottumwa hospital association and served as a director of that organization for 1914 to 1924. She was also a past president and member of the Tourist club and served on the Ottumwa library board. Elizabeth Duell Chamberlin was born March 24, 1877, at Utica, New York the daughter of John Clark and Margaret Duell Chamberlin. Whe she was three years old she moved with her family to Bridgeport Connecticut, and at the age of four to Saratoga, Springs New York. When she was 8 years old, she went to live with her aunt, Mrs. James B. Rayner in Chicago and she was educated in Chicago schools. She entered the University of Chicago in 1895 and was graduated in 1899. She taught English and French in the high school at Marquette, Michigan until 1903 when she came to Ottumwa as a teacher of English at Ottumwa High School. On June 15, 1905 she was married to the late Clarence S. Harper, president of the Harper McIntire Hardware Co. She is survived by three sons, Samuel H. Harper of Ottumwa, Lt. (J.G.) James Rayner Harper of the Naval Reserve, and Wallace R. Harper of Hingham, Massachusetts. The funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
Funeral services for Mrs. Clarence S. Harper, who died at 9:10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Joseph hospital will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday form the First Presbyterian church. The Rev. Richard Paul Graebel, D.D. will be in charge of the services and burial will be Ottumwa cemetery. The body will remain at the Lester Jay funeral home until 1 o’clock Tuesday when it will be removed to the church and the casket will be closed at the beginning of the service.