COPY FROM
NEWSPAPERS.COM ON 11 SEPTEMBER 2021
CLARK COUNTY
COURIER
VOLUME XXVIII. NUMBER 25.
23 MARCH 1923
PAGE 1 COLUM 2
OBITUARY
BLACK
Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas
and Lotsy Ballard, was born March 2, 1855, near
Ballard church in Clark county, Missouri, where she
grew to womanhood.
At her home at Wyaconda, Mo., Saturday
evening at 9 o’clock, the messenger of death paused and whispered
“Come unto me”, departing this life March 17, 1923, aged 68 years, and 15 days.
September 6, 1871, she was united in
marriage to Mr. George W. Black. To them
were born six children, two sons, Robert Lee and Walter Henry dying in
childhood, age 6 (six) and 1 (one) years respectively.
She was a member of the Rebekah lodge
and Baptist church of Wyaconda, Mo., and was held in high esteem by all who
knew her.
After residing on a farm in the
Ballard neighborhood for a number of years, they moved
to a farm near Woodville near Mr. Black’s boyhood home, and just a little more
than a year before the death of Mr. Black they moved to Medill where he
preceded her in death November 28 28, 1910.
Since the death of her husband she moved to
Wyaconda and resided there until death.
A husband, two sons, farther, mother, three sisters and one brother have
preceded her.
Two sons and two daughters, Mrs. Ora
Atwater of Burnside, Ill., Mrs. Emma Green of Ft. Madison, Iowa, Ben F. of Wyaconda,
Mo., and Henry W., of LaBell; one brother, Wat
Ballard of Vega, Texas, and one sister, Mrs. Frank Brown of Wyaconda, several
grandchildren and a large number of other relatives
and friends mourn the loss of a mother, sister and friend, whose purpose was
high, whose character noble. In early
childhood she gave her life to Christ and had for years been a consistent
member of the Baptist church. Life to
her was real and earnest. She accepted
its pleasures and trials with complacency, carrying with her everywhere a
potent charm of cheerfulness, helpfulness and good
will. Her generosity and general
hospitality were characteristic of her family.
No more will the walls of the old home resound to her gentle voice, but
death can never take from the minds and hearts of her loved ones her memory,
the many acts of kindness done and the gentle and kindly spirit which dominated
her life, will be remembered for years to come as influences which helped us to
live nobler lives.
For the last few years
she has been in failing health, suffering attacks of physical evils. Since November her condition has been
critical and though no effort was spared to bring about her recovery, medical
skill with gentle and loving care combined could not stay the hand of
death. February 22nd, she was
taken seriously ill. Thus
as the seasons, life changes from springtime to the days of winter and her
lusty youth has been giving way to feeble age and betoken the time of final
reckoning. She bore her suffering patiently. Knowing her life we
are confident that in that awful struggle between life and death she bore
herself like a Christian. He resolution
never failed. Her heroic spirit was firm
to the end.
The calling of a mother is one of
providences hard to be understood, but we know, that divine intelligence makes
no mistakes and divine love doeth no evil, so somehow it is best.
“Weep not for her; why should we weep. Her soul is free from troubles here. Her body quietly sleeps. Weep not, weep not, God knoweth
best. Our loved mother is now at rest,
Funeral services at Baptist church,
Wyaconda, Monday at 1 p. m. interment in
Kahoka cemetery.