Clipped from Newspaper.com 27 April 2021
CLARK COUNTY COURIER
Frank E. Greenlee Publisher
Volume XXII. Number 24.
Page 6, Col. 3
Kahoka, MO.
March 23, 1917

OBITUARY
LILLARD

Judith Wells, Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wells, was born Oct. 30, 1852; departed this life March 15, 1917, aged at demise 64 years, 4 moths and 14 days.
She was united in marriage to Mr. Thomas H. Lillard, of Kahoka, MO., March 28, 1872. To this union were born eleven children, three of whom preceded the mother to the other side of Jordan. The deceased is survived by her husband, Thomas H. Lillard, Kahoka, MO.; five daughter, whose names follow: Mrs. Harm Spencer, Mammouth (Mammoth) Springs, Ark.; Mrs. Andrew McClay, Ottawa, Kas.; Mrs. Virginia Dale, New York City, N. Y.; Miss Mary Lillard, Ottawa, Kas., and Mrs. Earl Price of Kahoka, MO.; three sons, William L., of Chicago, Ill.; Charles H. and Oscar R. of Kahoka. MO., Mrs. Lillard also leaves five brothers and four sisters, twelve grand-children and a large number of other relatives and friends who most deeply and keenly feel their loss.
The names, Wells and Lillard, have long been prominent in Baptist church history in Northeast Missouri. At the age of 16 Mrs. Lillard made definite decision for Christ and united with South Wyaconda Baptist church, where she remained a faithful member until her translation, which occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. J. McClay, Ottawa, Kansas, where she had gone in August, 11916, for the benefit of her health. Sister Lillard had served her Divine Lord long and well, and had realized in her life much of the character of worthy follower of Jesus Christ, therefore she could say:
“I look away across the sea.
Where mansions are prepared for me.
And view the shining glory shore,
My heaven, my home, forevermore!”
Her funeral was held from South Wyaconda Baptist church, Saturday, March 17. The funeral sermon was preached by her pastor, C. E. Newton. The following poem was read at the service by request of the children:

“There is no death! The stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore;
And bright in heaven’s jeweled crown
They shine forevermore.
There is no death! The dust we tread
Shall change beneath the summer showers
To golden grain or summer fruit
Or rainbow tinted flowers.
The granite rocks disorganize
To feed the hungry moss they bear;
The forest leaves drink daily life
From out the viewless air.
There is no death! The leaves may fall,
The flowers fade and pass away--
They only wait through wintry hours
The coming of the May.
They is no death! An angel from
Walks o’er the earth with silent tread;
He bears our best loved things away.
And then we call them dead.
He leaves our heart all desolate;
He plucks our fairest, sweetest flowers--
Transplanted into bliss they now
Adorn immortal bowers.
The bird-like voice, whose joyous tones
Made glad this scene of sin and strife,
Sings now her everlasting song
Amid the tree of life.
And when he sees a smile too bright
Or heart too pure for taint of vice;
He bears it to that world of light,
To dwell in Paradise.
Born into that undying life,
They leave us but to come again;
With joy we welcome them—the same,
Except in sin and pain.
And ever near us, through unseen,
The dear, immortal spirits tread.
For all the boundless universe
Is Life—there are no dead.”

May the Lord comfort and bless those who mourn.

C. Ellsworth Newton.