Elmer Coffey

COFFEY

Posted By: Ann Selvig (email)
Date: 10/19/2013 at 13:51:02

Humeston Advocate, Humeston, Iowa
Friday, September 25, 1903

DIED IN KEOKUK

Elmer Coffey Fails to Recover From Operation

Elmer Coffee, of Clay township, died last Saturday morning in Keokuk from the effects of an operation for tuberculosis of the peritoneum. The remains were brought to Humeston the same day and funeral services held at Unity Church at 2 o'clock Sunday, conducted by Rev. A. K. Williams.

As an evidence of the esteem in which the young man was held over 100 teams tied at the church racks during the service, 56 accompanying the remains to the cemetery.

Elmer D. Coffey, son of William and Margaret Coffey, was born Sep. 3, 1880, and departed this life Sept. 19, 1903, aged 23 years, 4 months, and 10 days.

Elmer had been sick about four weeks when taken to Keokuk to have an operation performed, after which he only lived ten days.

He leaves a mother, five brothers and a sister. During his sickness he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, and when the shadows of death were gathering around him, his faith in God knew no obscurity, and his soul was happy in singing songs of praise to the One who was to guide him over the valley of death. He asked his mother and brothers who were by his bedside in his last moments to meet him in heaven, and requested them to tell his associates that he was prepared to go and for them to so live that they might meet him on the other shore where parting would be no more. Peaceful and resigned he passed into the valley of death, covered with brilliant sunshine and fond rest for all his sufferings.

Elmer was a noble young man of good habits and well loved by everyone who knew him. He leaves behind to his kindred and friends the rich legacy of a splendid character. The funeral services were conducted at Unity church on Sunday, Sept. 20, by Rev. A. K. Williams, of Humeston. After services at the church the Yeomen Lodge of Cambria, of which Elmer was a dutiful Brother Archer, were requested to have funeral ceremonies. The Cambria Homestead No. 100 was assisted by Archers from Humeston Homestead in the ceremonies. Besides the fifty-six teams which followed the remains to their last resting place was a host of friends assembled at the cemetery to contribute their last respects to the departed, and join with the relatives in lifting their tearful eyes toward heaven, and in Christian hope exclaiming: "We Will Meet Beyond the River." His remains were laid beside his father in the Kirby cemetery, there to await the resurrection of the just.

D. W. IL

No relationship to the contributor