Mary Ellen French (1889-1943)

BANGS, FRENCH, HENRY, IRONS, MCBRIDE, MCCLEERY, WINTER

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

June 20, 1889 --- April 15, 1943

Mary E. FRENCH DIES SUDDENLY

Was Teacher Of Modern Languages Here 16 Years

Miss Mary Ellen French, of 606 Ogden avenue, instructor in modern languages at Escanaba Senior high school, and prominently identified with civic activities in the community, died at her home at one o’clock Thursday morning.

Miss French had suffered from a heart ailment for some time, but she was not taken seriously ill until Wednesday and her death came as a shock to her family and to the community in general.

She was born in Somonauk, Ill., and was a graduate of Monmouth college, Monmouth, III. Subsequently she did post graduate work, during vacation months, at the State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Columbia University at New York City, Western Reserve University of Cleveland, O., Middlebury Language School in Middlebury, Vt., and the State University of Colorado, at Boulder.

She taught in high schools in Iowa before coming to Escanaba sixteen years ago, to become instructor in French and Spanish at Escanaba high school.

She was keenly interested in dramatics and had coached the senior play for many years, and she was very active in Red Cross work, supervising the Red Cross class of the Senior high school Victory Corps, in addition to other work.

She was a member of Chapter 7 of the P. E. O. Sisterhood, Lewis Cass Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and was affiliated with the First Presbyterian church and the Presbyterian Guild.

Surviving are her mother, Mrs. Sarah E. French, and two sisters, Miss Leila, at home, and Miss Elsie, of Cairo, Egypt.

The body was taken to the Anderson Funeral Home where it will be in state today. Services will be held Saturday afternoon at four o'clock at the funeral home chapel, Rev. J. D. Barnard officiating. The body will be taken to Goldfield, Ia., where a service will be held Monday followed by burial in Goldfield cemetery.

Escanaba Daily Press --- Escanaba, Michigan
April 16, 1943

Final rites for Miss Mary Ellen French, member of the Escanaba high school faculty for the past sixteen years, who died Thursday morning, will be conducted by Rev. J. D. Barnard of the First Presbyterian church at the Anderson Funeral Home chapel this afternoon at four o'clock The body will be shipped tonight to Goldfield, Iowa, where a service will be conducted Monday afternoon and burial made.

Escanaba Daily Press --- Escanaba, Michigan
April 17, 1943

Funeral services for Miss Mary E. French of Escanaba, Mich., were held at the home of her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John Henry, on Monday afternoon, with Rev. John T. Haupt conducting the service. Burial was in the family lot in Glenwood cemetery, with John French, Walter French, Gilbert Henry, Ross Henry, Eldon Rasmussen and Frank Stevenson acting as casket bearers.

Miss French, with her parents and sisters, were residents of Goldfield for several years, moving from here in 1901.

Out of town relatives at the French funeral were: Mrs. W. J. French, Miss Irma Bangs and Miss Roma Irons of Escanaba, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. George McCleery of Waterloo; Miss Helen McCleery of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Ross Henry, Miss Jennie Winter of Clarion; Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Henry of Nevada; Mr. and Mrs. James Winter, Belmond; and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence McBride of Holmes.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
April 22, 1943