Obituary Record

William G Bovee
Died on 12/6/1920
Buried in Blair Cemetery

Herman Record 16 Dec 1920

Bovee Buried With Masonic Honors

Lodge Brothers and Sisters Pay Beautiful Tribute

The funeral of William G. Bovee of Green River, Wyoming, who died Monday December 6, from the effects of an accident, occurred here last Friday and was largely attended.

The Methodist church was filled. A large number of those present being members of the Masonic and Eastern Star orders in both of which Mr. Bovee had been prominent for years. Rev. C. W. Ford, pastor of the church and himself a Mason, conducted the service. Appropriate instrumental selections were given by Mrs. E. P. Hanson and vocal music was furnished by Mrs. Frank Whitcomb, Miss Ruth Roberts, C. H. Blanchard and Fred Robertson.

The floral offerings were exceptionally numerous and elaborate. Large wreaths came from the Green River Masonic lodge, Royal Arch chapter and Knight Templar commandery and a beautiful floral star from the Easter Star chapter of that place besides a number of boquets from personal friends there. The local Masonic lodge and Star chapter also had lovely pieces and friends in Herman and elsewhere contributed to bury the casket and chancel in a great mass of blossoms.

The pall bearers were Noble, of the Mystic Shrine, to which degree deceased was raised, each wearing the gold embroidered scarlet fez. They were E. P. Hanson, Charles Cameron, Kerwood S. Kline, F. I. Eriksen, William Flanagan and Earl Wilcox. Six Knight Templars in the stately uniforms of that order were on guard as honorary pall bearers. They were Sir Knights A. J. Cameron and E. W. Burdie of Herman and H. J. Wragge, B. C. Enyart, Harley Stanfield and Schroeder of Tekamah. About sixty Master Masons, wearing the white aprons of their order and the crepe and evergreen badges of mourning flowed the casket from the home of R. H. Bovee, where it was taken from the train, to the church.

Rev. Fords sermon was short but replete with good thoughts.

Burial was in the Bovee family plot in Blair cemetery. Practically all the lodge brothers and sister of deceased who attended the funeral followed the body to its final resting place. Several Blair Masons also fell in with the procession at the cemetery.

The beautiful Masonic burial service was given in a very impressive manner by Dr. A. J. Cameron, past master of Landmark Lodge of Herman.

The scroll deposited with the deceased brother’s Masonic apron in the grave bore the following record of his Masonic activities:

“William Garfield Bovee.

“Born at Otley, Iowa, September 26th, 1881. Died at Rock Sprigs, Wyoming, December 6th, 1920. He was a member of Baalbee Chaper Moriah Lodge, No. 6, A.F.&A.M., located at Green River, Wyoming. He was a member of Aaalbee Chapter, No. 5, Royal Arch Masons and of Afealon Commandery, No. 5, Knight Templars, located at the same place.

“He was also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, being a member of Korean Temple, located at Rawlings, Wyoming.

“He had served as worthy patron of Mystic Chapter No. 6 Order of the Eastern Star, Green River, for the past three years and had been reelected to that position for the ensuing year, just three days prior to his tragic death.

“He had been likewise honored by the Masonic organization to which he belonged, being a Past Master of Mount Moriah Lodge, a Past High Priest of Baalbee Chapter R.A.M. and a Past Commander of Afealon Commandery, Knight Templars.

“Truly a grand Masonic record.”

Mr. Bovee was fatally burned by an explosion of gasoline with which he had attempted to start a fire, thinking it was kerosene. He was taken to a Rock Springs hospital but died a few hours later.

Herman Record 23 Dec 1920

One of God’s Noblemen.

The Green River Wyoming Star, of December 10 tells of the dreadful accident resulting in the death of William G. Bovee and pays the following tribute to the deceased.

“William G. Bovee was one of God’s nobleman, a man who possess of few, if any of the faults so often found with humanity which comes in contact with the ? world and what few he may have thoughtlessly possessed were of the harmless and were minimized to nothingness by his life of usefulness in assisting in the betterment of others. He was the big brother of many a discouraged young man, and as one young man said this week to the writer – “He was a father to many of us and his council was ? for our betterment and he had a way of gaining our confidence, whereby we could unload our hearts and we always felt better for the good council he gave us.”

He was Past Master of Mount Moriah Lodge No. 6 A.F.&A.M., High Priest of Baalbee Chapter No. 5 R.A.M. Eminent Commander of Ascalon Commandery, No. 5 K.T., and Past Patron of Mystic Chapter No. 8 O.E.S., and in each of these orders he was honored and beloved for his noble acts and Christian like following in everyday life these orders splendid lessons for the good of mankind. As was stated by Rev. Peacock at the service over his remains – “His life was worthy of emulation by every young man of the community.” Also that “He was a prince among men.”

The body was prepared for burial at the Ace undertaking parlors at Rock Springs and brought to this city Tuesday evening, and that same evening public service was held at the U.P. Social hall attended by all Masonic bodies and the members of the O.E.S., as well as by everyone who could attend, who had known him in life.

Rev. G. N. Peacock gave a splendid picture lesson of the deceased as a man of the community whose ideals of life were so pure and filled so full of love for his fellow men that a valuable lesson was forceably brought to the minds of his audience to be ready, as was this noble handiwork of God, to be summoned to that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Music was furnished by Mrs. Theil, Miss Duncan and Messrs. Nicoll and Cottle.

Following the service the remains were shipped to Herman, Nebraska, the old home of the deceased, where they will be laid to rest by the Masonic bodies of that place.

Herman Record 16 Dec 1920

Kindness Appreciated

The brother and sisters of the late William G. Bovee wish to return their heartfelt thanks to the many friends whose kindly acts and words of consolation served to lighten the gloom of sorrow in their recent bereavement. To the members of the Masonic and Eastern Star orders the friends who furnished flowers and music at the funeral they feel especially indebted.

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

Printed in the Herman Record on 12/16/1920


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