Ernest Roy MOFFATT

MOFFATT, MOSIER, PARSONS, HAWLEY, HOLLEY, RYAN, FULCHER, THOMPSON, BARNES, KATER, FARMER, GRAHAM, LEE, HICKERSON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/17/2008 at 22:30:31

Ringgold Record, 1890

MEETS DEATH IN AUTO ACCIDENT

Ernest Moffatt Fatally Injured on Jefferson Highway Near Osceola.

Funeral services for Ernest R[oy]. MOFFATT, who died at the Osceola hospital Thursday evening about six o'clock as the result of injuries sustained when the car he was driving collided with a car driven by W. E. PARSONS, of Des Moines, on the Jefferson highway about four miles north of Osceola, were held at the home in Poe township Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. C. J. HAMILTON, pastor of the Mount Ayr Baptist church. The funeral was largely attended by friends whose hearts were deeply touched by the tragic death of one of the community's most promising young men. Friends and neighbors and friends from a distance, including Mr. MOFFATT's former employer and employees of the W. L. Holley Company of Des Moines, came to pay tribute of respect to the departed and share with the grief-stricken family the burden of grief. Profuse and beautiful were the floral offerings. Members of Ringgold Post of the American Legion attended in a body and participated in the services at the grave in Ringgold cemetery where the body was laid to rest.

The death of Mr. MOFFATT is singularly sad. Possessed of the sterling qualities which make for success; reared in a christian home and in a christian community where church and school advantages afford opportunity for the development of true christian character; with high school and university education and with experience in business; happily married and having just experienced the joy of being a father, he had crossed the threshold of a life of happiness and usefullness.

Details regarding the accident are, as always in such cases, not definitely known. Mr. MOFFATT left Mount Ayr a little after noon Thursday intending to go to Des Moines to meet his sister-in-law, Miss Nellie HAWLEY of Freeport, Ill. When he reached the point about four miles north of Osceola the car in which he was riding crashed with a car driven by Mr. PARSONS of Des Moines. Mr. MOFFATT suffered a fractured skull. He was taken at once to the hospital in Osceola, where his injuries were found to be of such nature as to be beyond the power of medical or surgical skill to correct, and at about 6 p.m. life passed out. The coroner of Clarke county, who investigated the accident, held that death was the result of an unavoidable accident.

The following obituary was read at the funeral service:

Ernest Roy MOFFATT, son of Mr. and Mrs. George D. MOFFATT, was born in Canon City, Colorado, May 16, 1899.

He professed faith in Christ and was baptized in the fellowship of the First Baptist church of Mount Ayr, Iowa, January 2, 1913.

He was graduated from the high school of Mount Ayr in 1918 after which he went immediately into the U.S. Navy, where he served until the close of the World War.

He returned home in August, 1919, and in September of the same year entered Des Moines University from which he graduated with honors in 1923.

Mr. MOFFATT, or Ernest as we all call him, spent the greater part of his life after his graduation as a salesman in California, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, the last three years of which he was engaged with Mr. L. W. HOLLEY, of Des Moines, Iowa.

He was united in marriage with Miss Hazel HAWLEY August 31, 1930. To this union was born one dear little daughter, Bettie Louise, just 10 days old.

After the passing of his father on the last of November of last year he resigned his position as a salesman and came home and settled down on the farm where he was making his plans for a long and happy life with his little family and friends.

But unfortunately at the unexpected moment, he passed suddenly into eternity June 18, 1931, aged 32 years, one month and two days.

He leaves to mourn their loss his devoted companion and infant daughter, his loving mother, one brother, Mr. Alex G. MOFFATT, of Mount Ayr; one sister, Mrs. Lyda MOSIER, of Mount Ayr; eight nieces, four nephews, uncles, aunts and other relatives, and a multitude of good friends.

Those from a distance attending the funeral were W. L. HOLLEY and employees of the W. L. HOLLEY Co., Conway RYAN, Mrs. J. E. FULCHER, Mr. and Mrs. THOMPSON, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. BARNES and family of Albany, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. C. F. KATER and family of Grant City, Mo.; Mrs. Mary FARMER of Eagleville, Mo.; Mrs. L. W. GRAHAM, Miss Nellie HAWLEY of Freeport, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Amos LEE of Manning; Wayne HICKERSON of Newton.

CARD OF THANKS.

Words cannot express the thanks we feel to our many friends for their words of sympathy and the beautiful floral offerings. We especially wish to thank the near neighbors for their kind deeds at the death of our loved one.

- Mrs. Hazel MOFFATT, Mrs. G. D. MOFFATT,
Mrs. Sim MOSIER, A. G. MOFFATT.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008