Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

[Fannie Mae Walston Swett]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    August 3, 1961    p. 5

Mrs. Fannie Swett Dies In Washington

Mrs. Fannie Mae Swett, a resident of Mount Vernon, Wash., since 1930, died last week after an extended illness.  Mrs. Swett was born Sept. 6, 1876, in Worth County, Missouri, the daughter of Silas and Mary Walston.

As a young girl she moved to Taylor County, Iowa, and here she was married to Cyrus Swett on July 16, 1896.  Mr. Swett died in 1953.

She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Lois Morris of Helena, Mont.; five sons, Art of Seattle, Walter of Kelson, Charlie of Hayward, Calif., Cyrus of The Dalles, Ore., Jay of Mount Vernon; 18 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; a sister, Mrs. Irene Ward of North Platte, Nebr.; two brothers, Tom Walston of Sharpsburg, Corb Walston of Bliss, Idaho.

Mrs. Swett was a member of the First Christian church at Mount Vernon.

Funeral services and burial were at Mount Vernon.

[Clyde Ouderkirk]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   August 3, 1961     p. 5

Clyde Ouderkirk Dies

Clyde Ouderkirk, 68, Sharpsburg, died at University hospital, Iowa City, at one a. m. Wednesday morning, August 2.

[Marjorie Elizabeth Renfro Hanshaw]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 25, 1972    p. 2

Last Rites Held May 18 For Mrs. C. Hanshaw

Funeral services for Mrs. Clifton (Marjorie Elizabeth) Hanshaw, 54, of Bedford, held May 18 at the Bedford Baptist Church, were conducted by Mr. Carl Cummings.  Mrs. Hanshaw died May 16, 1972, at the Methodist Hospital in St. Joseph, Mo.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford.

Marjorie E. [lizabeth] Hanshaw, daughter of Jessie T. [aylor] and Verna E. Owens Renfro, was born in Taylor County, Iowa, November 16, 1917.  She grew to adulthood in the Hopkins community and graduated from the Hopkins High School.

On November 15, 1937, she was united in marriage to [James] Clifton Hanshaw at Maryville, Missouri, and to them were born twins, James and Kaye, to bless their home and to share their love.

With the exception of four years lived in California they have continued to reside in Bedford.

She was preceded in death by her mother; brothers, Kenneth and Harlan, and a baby brother and sister who died in infancy.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Clifton; son, James, and his wife, Patricia, of Bedford and daughter, Kaye, and her husband, George, of Tampa, Florida; four grandchildren, Kelli, James and Micah Steele and Angela Hanshaw; her father, Jesse T. Renfro and step-mother, Beulah, of Vallejo, Calif.; a brother, Orville of Cave Junction, Oregon; a sister, Mildred Holdbrook, of Torrance, Calif.; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many, many friends.

A long time employee of the Bedford National Bank, she was a member of the Baptist Church, Order of Eastern Star and Rebekah Lodge.

"Mickie" was a kind and loving wife and mother, friend and neighbor and she will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

[Celia McKee Steele]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    August 13, 1896    [p. 2]

The funeral of Mrs. Wm. Steele [Celia McKee] was conducted from the home at 10 o'clock this morning by Father John of Lenox.  Interment was at the Bedford cemetery.

[Pearl Gates]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    August 13, 1896    [p. 2]

Funeral services for Miss Pearl Gates were held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hopson, south of the city, at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon.  The sermon was by Rev. M. C. Waddell, and song service by the M. E. choir of this city.  The funeral was attended by a large number of Masons from Bedford, who went as a mark of fraternal esteem for Mr. Gates, who is a Master Mason.  Miss Gates was aged 16 years and 22 days.

[Agnes Marr Meikle]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday   August 13, 1896    [p. 2]

Mrs. Robert Meikle Dead.

Wm. Meikle received the following dispatch last evening:

Colorado Springs, Col., 8-10, 1896.

Wm. Meikle, Bedford:

Mrs. Robert Meikle [Agnes Marr] died this morning.  Will reach Bedford at 10 o'clock Tuesday evening.  Have hearse at depot.  Funeral at Morning Star church at 2 o'clock p. m. Wednesday.  Notify Mrs. Marr and others.

                                    Robt. Meikle.

[Agnes Marr Meikle]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    August 13, 1896    [p. 2]

Robt. Meikle arrived from Colorado on the 10 o'clock passenger Tuesday night with the body of Mrs. Meikle [Agnes Marr].  He was met at the depot by relatives and friends who assisted in conveying the body to the home.  The funeral was conducted at the Morning Star church at 2 o'clock this afternoon, and was attended by a large concourse of friends.  The sermon was by Rev. W. D. Hart, of Gravity.  The bereaved husband has the sympathy of his neighbors and friends.


[Permelia Anna Mathers Kinnison]

Times-Republican

Tuesday   May 16, 1922    [p. 1]

A memorial service was held at the Church of Christ, Sunday, Mother's Day, in honor of Mrs. Anna Kinnison, who was one of the victims of that dread disease, smallpox.

The service was conducted by Rev. E. E. Lowe, who was her pastor at the time of her death.  The Circle Girls, of whom Mrs. Kinnison was "Mother," attended the service in a body and rendered the music.

After the service at the church, a brief service was held at the cemetery.  Below is a brief sketch of her life:

Permelia Anna Mathers was born March 6, 1869, on a farm near Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa.

She grew up at or near the place of her birth, attending the country schools and church and bible school in Bedford.

March 27, 1890, she and A. [bram] C. [lark] Kinnison of Bedford were united in marriage and almost their whole married life was spent in Bedford.  At an early age sister Kinnison became a Christian.  Her many activities in the Church of Christ attest to her loyalty and faithfulness in the service of her Master.

Immediately upon entering the marriage state her mothering instinct had an opportunity for development, for Brother Kinnison, having a small family of children by a previous marriage, Sister Kinnison became a true mother to them and they today lovingly call her "Mother" and mourn even as do her own two sons the (to us) early home going of one they loved so well.

Just two sons were born to them, Virgil M. [athers], of Bedford and Kenneth DeHaven, who now resides at Orange, Calif.  Both her sons are Christians.  She looked well at her own household.

In March 1920, in order to benefit the health of Brother Kinnison, they sold out at Bedford and moved to California.  The change did not help in giving health again to Brother Kinnison, and on the 9th of June 1921, he fell asleep, a Christian, officer in the church for years, a good man.

Sister Kinnison returned to Bedford with the body of her husband and since that time until February 6, 1922, she and Virgil made their home together.  Smallpox claimed her and her body was laid to rest without the usual funeral service.  Thus closes a life well spent.  Active in every department of church, life, Bible school, as teacher, Christian Endeavor, even until the time of her home going, Missionary society, the choir, Ladies' Aid and especially in the latter years as "Mother" to the Circle Girls, their first "Mother."  In her honor, the Circle now bears the name, the "Anna Kinnison Circle."

Surely her works do follow her and not only her children but many others "rise up and call her blessed."

She leaves her two sons; two sisters, Mrs. Frank Hamblin [Hester Chilcote Mattice] of Sharpsburg, Mrs. Sarah Kieffer of Portland, Ore.; one half-sister, Mrs. Nellie Thomas of Bedford.

May the deeds of her life remain with us, an aroma of sweetness, while memory lingers.