Decatur County Journal
April l7, l902

HOWARD W. SPRY was born at Mt. Pleasant, Ia., September 8, l875, and
died at his home in Decatur City, April 9, l902, aged 26 years, 7 months
and l day. He leaves a wife, two little boys and a host of friends to
mourn his loss. MR. SPRY grew to manhood at Mt. Pleasant and graduated
from the public schools at that place in the spring of l892.

He came to Decatur County in l896 to practice his profession, that of a
cancer specialist, and has lived here since, with the exception of a few
months spent in Montana in search of health. December 25, l896, he was
united in marriage to MISS ESTA BENTON of Decatur City. To this union
were born two children--FLOYD WILLIAM, aged 3 years and HOWARD CLARE,
aged 2 years, both of whom are left to face the world without the
protecting care of a father.

What more can be said of a man when he is dead than that he was honest,
upright and true. He had his faults, who of us has not? But humanity is
imperfect and we are more apt to speak adverse criticism rather than
merited praise. For years, an invalid, he has struggled with that grim
monster. All that tender hearts and willing hands could do was done to
stay the result and almost in despair he sought the life giving climate
of the western mountains for a new lease on life and health. But alas!
how vain are human hopes. He steadily grew worse and disappointed and
heartbroken returned to spend the few remaining days at home and among
friends. At an early hour Thursday morning, his spirit took its flight,
death was victor and all that is mortal of HOWARD SPRY "sleeps the sleep
that knows no waking."

Although MR. SPRY never united with any church, he died in the firm hope
of a brighter and happier world beyond the grave. The funeral was held
at the M.E. Church at Decatur City, Thursday at l0 a.m. conducted by
Rev. Joseph Edwards of Grand River, who spoke from the l5th chapter of
lst Corinthians, after which the remains were laid to rest in the
Palestine Cemetery.
E.P.C.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
July 20, 200l
 

==============================
Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases
http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp
Search over 2500 databases with one easy query!