From: "Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert" <iggy29@scican.net>

To: <IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com>

Subject: OBITUARY - MRS. ELLA (RHEES) PAINTER.

Date: Friday, July 06, 2001 6:28 PM

Decatur County Journal

September 20, l900

ELLA RHEES PAINTER was born January 4, l847, in Indiana and lived there

with her parents until entering girlhood, when they moved to Iowa, where

she has lived with the exception of two years when she resided in

southern Missouri, coming to Pleasanton in l87l. She became acquainted

with and married J.N. PAINTER in l873. By her kind disposition and good

deeds she soon won the esteem, love and admiration of all, which lasted

and grew with freshness and fragrance as the years passed by;

strengthened each day by strewing loving and kind words along the

pathway of some needy; not for gain in this earthly home but to lay up

treasures in Heaven, trying to make her neighbor's burden lighter, that

they too might see a bountiful harvest to reap by and by.

Her field of action was enlarged at the outset of her married life by

assisting her husband in his business affairs. Their business increased

each year until they had built a good trade and invested largely, she

putting her shoulder to the wheel of progress at each revolution, sowing

seeds of kindness along their way. Time rolled on, the months came and

went; monuments erected through the wisdom of God while floating down

life's streat; until about a year ago, she took sick from which she

never recovered; although loving hands, kind words of encouragement and

skilled medical aid were given which proved only palliating.

Confined to her sick bed she stood her misery and pain with patience,

offering what little she could do for the Master's cause. Much of the

success in laying the foundation for the permanency and perpetuation of

the Methodist Class and it's auxiliaries here of which she was a member,

are due to her wisdom and unceasing, never tiring prayers, her counsel

was wisdom. The glory of God shown out from her and cast its rays on

all. She had a good word for all, and was resigned to her condition.

About two weeks ago, after repeated requests from her sister and niece,

she consented to be taken to Bussey, Iowa, to be treated by a physician

whom they thought could make a cure. The evening before her departure,

a few of her friends gathered at her home to encourage and console her,

as she so regretted to leave her husband; but she said "the Lord will

take care of us just the same". The last words the writer heard her say

which were in answer to "how do you feel", after she had been taken to

the depot were, I'm in no pain; all is well. The trip was made without

much fatigue to her, as she the next morning after her arrival there,

went to the table, ate her breakfast, then walked to the telephone and

talked to her husband. About a week later, an operation was decided and

performed and was healing up and doing well, until last Friday, August

3lst when she began to grow weaker, but rallied, and Saturday morning,

Sept. lst she took worse with hemorrhage of the stomach, vomiting blood

until half past ten o'clock she fell asleep in Jesus as quietly as a

child. She was perfectly rational until the last. Even after her sight

grew dim she knew what was said. In answer to "if she realized the end

was near" she said yes, I wish PAINTER was here, but I am in the hands

of the Lord. Then the spirit took its flight to God who gave it. Her

sister or daughter was with her all the time she was away.

The remains were brought home the following Monday, accompanied by her

husband and sister, MRS. MOLLIE PRATT, and were taken to the residence

and viewed by many loving friends until 2 o'clock p.m. then taken to the

M.E. Church where the funeral was (cannot read the next 3 lines.)

Afterwards a large concourse of friends followed the remains to the

south cemetery where the Ladies Auxiliary of which she was an (cannot

read the next several lines.) Her spirit is resting with Jesus. She has

gone from us in body, but left everlasting memories, which she can watch

from her home in Heaven. She leaves a loving husband, two sisters and a

brother, besides relatives and friends unnumbered to mourn her going.

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Copied July 6, 200l

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