Obituary--Manly C. Seymour

Back some time ago we featured a tribute to Mr. Seymour's wife that had probably been written by my favorite flowery obituary writer, Mrs. Robertson.  Here I've found the obituary of Mr Seymour.  Several years after his wife's death, he is only 59 years old, but a prominent resident of Hesperia whose name appeared frequently in articles about the Hesperia area. 


From the 26 January 1939 Fremont TimesIndicator:

MANLEY C. SEYMOUR OF HESPERIA, DIES OF HEART AILMENT


Fatally Stricken At Wheel Of Car While On Visit To Indiana Saturday

Manley C. Seymour, a prominent Hesperia resident, was unexpectedly taken by death when he was stricken by a heart attack as he was driving his car at New Haven, Indiana, last Saturday noon.  He had been in ill health for several weeks and wat the time of his death was visiting relatives in Indiana.  He was 59 years old.
Mr Seymour was a resident of Hesperia all his life and was born at that place September 30, 1879.  He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Seymour.  On June 1904 he married Miss Etta Johnson who died 14 years ago.   As a young man he operated a harness shop in Hesperia and later owned a store.  For the past several years he owned a service station in the village which he recently leased out.  He was a member of the village council until last year and was a member of the Greater Hesperia association.  During 1935-36 he was Newaygo county welfare agent.  Last fall he was candidate for the Republican nomination for the state legislature from the Newaygo-Oceana district.
For the past 10 days he had been visiting his daughter Evelyn June, at the home of his brother-in-law, Clyde Moon and family in New Haven.  While driving his car about the town he succumbed to his heart ailment and the car continued through a stop light at an intersection, coming to a halt against a telephone pole.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Hesperia Methodist church of which he was a lifelong member.  Rev. E. M. Mumby, pastor of the church officiated.  Burial was made at East cemetery, Hesperia.
Besides his daughter, he is survived by one sister, Mrs. Gladys Evans.

The headlines were rather frightening on this one, stricken while driving his car, but apparently he was the only one insured.  But he was apparently a real go-getter, having owned several businesses in Hesperia, as well as active in the county and state politics.  And as a native of Hesperia, I had to chuckle at the phrase "Greater Hesperia association," as Hesperia is not a very large village.  Clearly Mr. Seymour was a person who was able to adapt to the changing times, as he started out with a harness shop, and ended up with a service station.