Eliza (RAY) SMITH

SMITH, BASTOW, ASHURST, WIMER, RAY, RUSSELL, ESSAM, HOADLEY, ROSENBERRY, CLAYTON, LOCKWOOD

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/9/2009 at 14:29:02

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1930

DEATH of MRS. ELIZA SMITH.

Eliza SMITH was born in Warren county, Illinois, on January 25, 1854. She passed away on November 1, 1930, at the St. Joseph hospital in St. Joseph, Mo., at the age of 76 years and ten months. She was the fourth child of Orville and Jane RAY.

She was married to John Wesley SMITH October 26, 1873. For twelve years they made their home on a farm near Berwick, Illinois. In the spring of 1885 they moved to Tingley, Iowa, and lived on the farm now owned by Ray SMITH in Tingley township. They spent the rest of their lives in Ringgold county except four years when they lived in Taylor county near Clearfield. During these years they were engaged in buying and selling land in addition to stock raising and general farming.

Her husband preceded her in death on December 5, 1924. Since his death she has resided on her farm in Liberty township.

She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. No sacrifice was too great for her to make for her family. She united with the Union Baptist church in Warren county, Illinois, in early womanhood, and had never changed her membership. She was a strict follower of the golden rule and expected others to do the same.

She leaves to mourn their loss one daughter, Lena BASTOW of Mount Ayr, four sons, Henry, Arthur, Ray and Roy of Tingley. Two daughters preceded her in death - Nora ASHURST and Frances WIMER. There are thirty-three grandchildren left to mourn the passing of their devoted grandmother. She also leaves one brother, Silas RAY of Berwick, Illinois, also a host of other relatives and friends.

As it was said of her husband it may well be said of her: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day."

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 at the Baptist church in Mount Ayr, conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. J. HAMILTON, and interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Relatives attending the funeral from a distance were Clyde and Harvey RUSSELL of Rockford, Neb., Mr. and Mrs. Charles ESSAM and son Dwane of Beatrice, Neb., Silas O. RAY of Berwick, Ill., and Luster RAY of Monmouth, Ill., Mrs. Fred HOADLEY, Mr. and Mrs. Messler FOSTER, Mrs. Mabel ROSENBERRY, of Berwick, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Jesse CLAYTON and daughter of Clearfield.

CARD OF THANKS.

We take this means of expressing to all the neighbors and friends our sincere thanks for the many acts of kindness and sympathy during the illness and death of our mother.

- THE CHILDREN.

NOTE: Eliza's husband John Wesley SMITH was born in 1847, and died December 5th of 1924 with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery. Of John Wesley and Eliza (RAY) SMITH's children: Roy R. SMITH was born in 1874 and died in 1950 with interment at Redding Cemetery; Arthur W. SMITH was born in 1879, and died in 1936 with interment at Tingley Cemetery beside his wife Clara Nell (LOCKWOOD) SMITH; Lena (SMITH) BASTOW was born in 1882, and died in 1942 with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, beside her husband Herbert W. BASTOW (1884-1965); Frances (SMITH) WIMER was born in 1888, and died in 1930 with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery; and Ray O. SMITH was born in 1892 and died in 1945 with interment at Tingley Cemetery.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008