Mrs. D. McMurtrie passed away at 10 o’clock this morning, having been sick from diabetes since Feb. 17th. About the first of March she gave up the Ellington Hotel and went out to the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. E. McComb, on the old Magnus Johnson place west of town. She had taken no food for a week and yet she was conscious up to the last evening, showing wonderful vitality. The funeral will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon from the Baptist Church in this city.

Sarah Drury was born in Racine, Wis., Jan. 17, 1853, and was married to David S. McMurtrie May 14, 1874. They came to Nebraska in May, 1888 and he died on Decoration Day fourteen years ago. Since his death Mrs. McMurtrie ran a bakery, a restaurant for some time and later a hotel in this city. She was always a hard worker and didn’t quit until she was absolutely compelled to do so by the progress of the disease that had laid hold upon her.

She leaves two sons, Harland and Menzo, both of Milwaukee, Wis., and two daughters, Mr. C. E. McComb and Mrs. C. C. VanDeusen, besides nine grandchildren. Also, five sisters and two brothers, she being the eldest and first to go of a family of eight children. She lived a clean, upright, worthy life in the face of many hardships and such a life is never lived in vain. The sympathy of her many friends is extended to the bereaved sons, daughters and relatives.

#2-Blair Democrat 29 May 1913

Mrs. McMurtrie Is Called

Mrs. D. McMurtrie, who formerly conducted the Ellington hotel in this city and later taken to the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. E. McComb, died at the home of the latter yesterday morning, after suffering several months with diabetes, and the funeral will be held from the Baptist church in this city Saturday morning at 11 o’clock. She was born in Racine, Wis., in 1853, and was married to D. McMurtrie in 1874, coming to Nebraska in 1888. She is survived by four children, Harland and Menzo who live in Milwaukee, and Mrs. C. E. McComb and Mrs. C. C. VanDeusen, who reside west of Blair.

#3-Enterprise 30 May 1913

Mrs. McMurtrie Dead.

Mrs. McMurtrie died last Wednesday at the home of her son-in-law, C. E. McComb on the Magnus Johnson farm three miles north of Kennard. She had been sick for a couple or more years but continued to manage the business of the hotel, the Ellington, of which she was proprietress, until a few months ago when she closed it up and later went out on the farm where her daughters Mrs. McComb and Mrs. C. C. VanDeusen could care for her, since which time she has been bedfast, with a trained nurse in attendance, and has been a hopeless sufferer. She was a native of Wisconsin and, with her husband, who died several years ago, came to Blair some twenty-five years ago. Two sons and two daughters, Harland and Menzo, living in Milwaukee, and Mrs. C. E. McComb and Mrs. C. C. VanDeusen, on farms near Blair, are bereft of a kind mother’s love.

Funeral services will be held at the Baptist church in Blair Saturday at 11 a.m.

#4 Printed in the June 4, 1913 Tribune

MRS. McMURTRIE DEAD

Mrs. D. McMurtrie died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C.E. McComb, Wednesday morning May 28, 1913, at 10 o'clock, after having been sick with diabetes since February 17. Sarah Drury was born in Racine, Wis., Jan. 17, 1853, ans was married to David McMurtrie May 14, 1874. They came to Nebraska in May, 1888. Mr. McMurtrie died on Memorial day fourteen years ago. Since his death Mrs. McMurtrie has run a bakery and restaurant in Blair, and for a few months before her death conducted the Ellington hoel. She leaves two sons, Harland and Menzo, both of Milwaukee, Wis., and two daughters, Mrs. C.E. McComb and Mrs. C.C. VanDeusen of Blair, besides nine grandchildren. She was the eldest of a family of eight children and was the first to be called to the Great Beyond. Mrs. McMurtrie was always a hard-working woman and though she faced many hardships in life she was always cheerful and looking forward to the best in life. Her many friends and acquaintances join The Tribune in extending their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved sons and daughters. The funeral was held a 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon from the Baptist church in this city, Rev. Sturdevant conducting the last sad rites, and the body was laid to rest in the Blair cemetery. Note: From Blair Cemetery listing: Name Sarah E; born 17 Jan 1853; died 28 May 1913; buried Blk 31 Lot 7 Grave 10

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

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