STELLA STEVENS DIED AT GOOD SHEPHERD MONDAY

Estella May Stevens, a long time resident of Blair, died at the Good Shepherd Home last Monday at the age of 96. She had been especially active until a few weeks ago when she sustained a broken bone in a fall.

Mrs. Stevens was born at Missouri Valley, Iowa August 17th, 1879. As a young woman, she taught school in Montana, Nebraska and Iowa. She was married to Edgar Stevens in 1911 and the couple moved to Blair in 1924. Mr. Stevens for many years was in the postal service in Blair and later became a tollkeeper on the Blair Bridge. He preceded Mrs. Stevens in death in 1961.

She was a member of the Congregational Church. When the Blair Rotary Club began meeting at the church 31 years ago, Mrs. Stevens was one of the church women who helped with the preparation of the club’s dinners. She continued doing this until she was 90 years of age. She was also a member of the Monday Afternoon Club, and despite her advanced age, had attended some of the meetings during the past year.

Mrs. Stevens had no children. Two brothers preceded her in death. They were Hugh Cooke and Harold (Pip) Cooke, both well known here and both prominent in University of Nebraska athletics. She had no sisters.

The only living relatives are a niece and three cousins. The niece is Mae Smith of Huntington Beach, California. The cousins: Lawrence and Ralph Cooke of Spokane, Washington and Mrs. Bruce Cox of Blair.

Funeral services were held at the Campbell Mortuary Wednesday forenoon and burial was made in the Rosehill Cemetery at Missouri Valley, Iowa. The Rev. John Fritzmeir, pastor of the First Congregational Church of which Mrs. Stevens was a member for many years, conducted the service and preached the funeral sermon.

Casket bearers were Richard Larson, Homer Nielsen, George Campbell and Fred Aman.