10 March 2011

Obituary--Cora A. ( Mrs. Harry D.) Davis

I thought this week I would post the obituaries of a couple women who died within a month of each other.  Both were born out of town  and lead active lives.  But very different lives for a couple of very different women. 
From the 11 October 1917 Fremont TimesIndicator:

MRS. HARRY D DAVIS
Cora A. Post was born in Bangor, VanBuren county, Michigan, September 30, 1882.  At the age of 16 she was converted and baptized in the Christian church at Dowagiac, later transferring to the Methodist church at Traverse City.
She was married to Harry D. Davis at Elk Rapids May 27, 1901.  After a short period Mr Davis went into the employ of the Pere Marquette railroad, moving to Grand Rapids and residing there until 1910 when he was transferred to Chicago, where they have since resided and where her pleasing personality won her a host of friends.  She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, division 414, serving as its president for one year.
Mrs. Davis was always of a frail nature and her health slowly began to fail as one severe illness after another robbed her of her strength until valvular heart trouble developed and for the past three years she has been a very patient and cheerful sufferer, always thinking of others before herself.  All that science, medical help and loving care could do was done for her and she passed to her reward October 2, 1917.
She was a woman who endeared herself to all with whom she came in contact.  Her kind disposition was an example to all she met.  Mrs. Davis' faith in her saviour was a great comfort and her rest was well earned.
She leaves a husband, father, mother, one brother, many other relatives and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss.
The funeral was held at the home of her mother, Mrs. G. Vanderhill of Holland where she spent the last few months of her life.  The services were conducted by the Rev. J. W. Esveld, pastor of the Fremont Methodist Episcopal Church.  The floral gifts were beautiful, a fitting tribute to the beauty of her life.
Those who attended from out of the city were Mr. and Mrs. D. Stocking and Mrs. Bertha Davis of Fremont, Mr. and Mrs. J. Davis, Mrs. A. Cole, Mrs. A. Gannon, Mrs. C. Wilcox, Mrs. W. Combs and Miss Sara McWade of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Heck and Mrs. C. Cushing of Dowagiac, Mr. and Mrs. J. Ebach and son Charles, and Mr. and Mrs. J. Ritchart of Grand Rapids, Mrs. C. Gibbs and daughter, Evelyn of Battle Creek, and Mrs. Lynch of Muskegon.
--Contributed.

I was puzzled why this appeared in the Fremont newspaper.  She apparently never lived here, although a few people from Fremont attended the funeral.   Perhaps Mrs Bertha Davis was her husband's mother. This was apparently published in another newspaper first, as the Fremont people were considered from out of town.  Although not attributed to them, I suspect it either appeared in a Holland newspaper, or someone from there wrote up the obituary and sent it on to the Fremont TimesIndicator.
And as one of those things that just bug me--she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary.  What was it an auxiliary of?  Just something to ponder.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.