Jennie Lee (Middleton) SHOENHAIR

MIDDLETON, SHOENHAIR, LEE, WRIGHT, BROOKS, PAINE, LYONS, BAKER, THOMAS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

19 September 1880 --- 21 September 1962

Jennie Lee, daughter of Lucinda Lee and Elmore Middleton, was born on a farm a few miles south of Eagle Grove in Troy Township. When a small girl her family moved to what has long been known as the Sam Middleton farm at the south edge of town.

Later her father built the residence at 922 S. Commercial and it was from here that Jennie attended the Eagle Grove schools, graduating with the class of 1899. She taught country school, attended and graduated from State Teachers College and was a kindergarten teacher in the local schools.

On August 19th, 1908 she was married to Frank Shoenhair and other than a year in Kansas where their daughter, Lucille, was born, the rest of their married life was spent in Eagle Grove. For many years she and her husband made a home for her mother. After the death of her husband on April 15th, 1955, she continued to live in the family home until Aug. 12, 1959, when she became a resident of Friendship Haven.

On September 19th she came to Eagle Grove to attend a party given by her nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Middleton, in honor of her 82nd birthday. That evening she attended the meeting of the White Shrine of Jerusalem where she was voted an honorary member. She was also guest of honor at a dinner party Thursday night at the home of Frances Wright and Hazel Brooks. She was taken suddenly ill on the morning of the 22nd and died within the hour at the Middleton home.

Jennie was the youngest of a family of eight, five girls (Orilla) Mrs. David Paine; (Hattie) Mrs. W. G. Baker, (Achsah) Mrs. Walter Lyons and (Grace) Mrs. Ed Lyons; three brothers, Lyman, Jesse and Sam Middleton.

She was a life long member of the Methodist Church. Had served as Worthy Matron of the local Order of the Eastern Star and Worthy High Priestess of the White Shrine.

She leaves to mourn her passing her daughter and son-in-law, the De Wayne Thomases of Danville, Arkansas and their three children Mary Dee, James and Terry, many nieces and nephews and innumerable friends who will long remember her love for people and zest for living.

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
September 27, 1962

source -- Paul Wilde