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

[Marcus Lafayette "Lafe" Long]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    July 28, 1921    [p. 1]

Former Resident Died Wednesday At Lawton, Okla. ---- Aged 83.

M. [arcus] L. [afayette] Long, known here as Lafe Long, died at his home in Lawton, Okla., last Wednesday morning, at the good old age of 83 years, 5 months and 21 days.

The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock here at the home of H. [iram] M. Long and burial will be made in the old Bedford cemetery.

The older residents of this community will remember the deceased as the oldest one of the three Long boys who are old residents of this community.  Henry and Hiram still live here and a sister, Mrs. M. [artin] V. King [Sarah] lives at Lincoln, Neb.  Lafe moved from this community about the time the Oklahoma land opening was held a number of years ago and has since made his home there.  His wife died several years ago, and there are two sons, Arthur and Ernest.

[Marcus Lafayette "Lafe" Long]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday   August 4, 1921    [p. 1]

Obituary ---- Marcus L. Long.

Marcus L. [afayette] Long was born in 1838 at Shelbyville, Indiana, and died at Lawton, Oklahoma, July 27th, 1921.

Shortly after his birth his family moved to Greencastle, Indiana, where he spent his early boyhood.  At the age of seventeen the family moved to Iowa, settling at Chariton in Lucas County in 1854.  Three years later, they moved to Taylor County, Iowa, where with the exception of a few years spent in the west when a young man he resided continuously in Bedford, Iowa, until 1894 when he moved with his family to Kay County, Oklahoma.  After spending several years pioneering in Kay County, he moved with his family to Comanche County, Oklahoma, in 1901, where they spent several years farming, retiring to Lawton [Comanche County], Oklahoma, in 1908, where they have since continuously resided.

In 1868 he was united in marriage to Laura A. Wilson at Bedford, Iowa.  To this union were born five boys, three of whom passed away in early childhood.  His wife, Mrs. Laura A. Long, died February 5, 1917.

He is survived by two sons, Ernest Long of Lawton, Okla., and Arthur E. Long of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one sister, Mrs. S. [arah] B. King of Lincoln, Nebr.; and two brothers, H. [enry] P. Long and H. [iram] M. Long, both of Bedford, Iowa, and two grandchildren, Marjorie and Reginald Long.

Funeral services were held from the H. [iram] M. Long home in Bedford, Saturday afternoon, July 30, 1921, at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Gable of the M. E. church, and burial was made in the old Bedford cemetery.


[Mary Ann Bradley Miller Martin]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 24, 1946    p. 3

Obituary - Mrs. J. W. Martin

Mary Ann Bradley was born July 27, 1870, at Guilford, Mo., and died at her home in Bedford, October 16, at the age of 76 years, 2 months and 19 days.  She was the daughter of Carlos D. [wight] and Margaret Jane Bradley.

The earlier part of her life was spent in Missouri and Nebraska.

In 1889 she was marred to William H. Miller of Pickerel, Nebraska.  One daughter, Lenna Geraldine, was born to them.

At an early age, she united with the Christian church at Beatrice, Nebr., and later transferred her membership to the Christian church at Bedford.

In 1893 she was married to Jacob W. [aller] Martin at Buffalo, Mo.  To them seven children were born, two of whom preceded her in death, Mary Caroline in infancy, and Marion Bradley Martin in 1945.

For the past thirty-seven years her home had been in Bedford.

For more than 30 years she had been an invalid.

She is survived by her husband, Jacob W. [aller] Martin; six children, Geraldine Hill of Gravity, Ethel [Shehan Stafford] Croy of Omaha, Robert Martin of Malone, Washington, William Martin, Walter Martin and Luella Dunn of Bedford.

There are also fifteen grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, two brothers, Carlos D. Bradley and Earl A. Bradley, and one sister, Zelma Whitley.

The funeral services were held at the Shum Funeral Home Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Gordon F. MacLean.  Burial was in the Fairview cemetery.

[Stella Piper Shum]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 24, 1946    p. 3

Obituary - Mrs. Stella Shum

Stella Piper, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Piper, was born in Page County, Iowa, April 1, 1874, and died Monday, October 14, 1946, in Conway at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Murray, at the age of 72 years, 6 months and 13 days.

The early part of her life was spent on a farm five miles north of Clarinda.  She later moved to Taylor County, where she spent the remainder of her life.

Two years ago she moved to Conway to make her home with Mr. and Mrs. Murray and was cared for by them during her last illness.

On March 3, 1892, she was married to William Shum.  To them three sons were born: Orie C. Shum and Lowell C. Shum of Lenox, and Floyd E. Shum of Bedford.

Surviving with the three sons are one sister, Mrs. Gertie Weller of Conway; two granddaughters, Carol Shum and Wilma Novinger, the foster daughter, Mrs. Ruth Dickinson and two daughters of Ames.  Her husband, parents, one brother and one sister preceded her in death.

When a young girl she united with the Methodist church and remained a faithful and active member until her death.

Funeral services were held from the Methodist Church in Conway Wednesday, October 16, conducted by Rev. W. J. Weber.  Burial was in the Gravity cemetery.