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Alice Bertha (Phelps) Pierce Prominent Blairite Dies Sunday-Last Charter Member of M. A. C., Oldest Culture Club in Nebraska-Active Until Last

Mrs. E. C. Pierce, old settler of Blair, charter member of the Monday Afternoon Club, Organized in 1878, active in church work and a member of the Nikumi Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution, passed away Sunday evening at 9:15 at the Blair Hospital after a brief illness.

Deceased, as Alice Bertha Phelps, was born at Monkton, New York, October 8, 1854. Shortly following her birth, the family moved to Burlington, Vermont, where she grew to maturity and received her early education. She came to Blair in the winter of 1876 and 1877 to visit relatives while here she met E. C. Pierce, who was in the furniture and undertaking business. After returning to Burlington, Mr. Pierce went to Burlington and they were married February 14, 1878.

They at once returned to Blair and established their home. Mrs. Pierce became a part of the community. When here in 1876 she had become a charter member of the Monday Afternoon Club and she again became active, not only in that but the Episcopal Church as well, which was organized in 1882. She had attended every meeting of the M. A. C. this season.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce: Mrs. William Wilkinson of Blair, Mrs. Cora Rothary of Los Angles, California; Mrs. Fred Abbott of Blair and Stanley and Mrs. Clyde Allen, the latter two deceased. Fifteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren also survive.

The husband passed away in June of 1922. Since that time Mrs. Pierce has devoted much of her time to church and club work. She was a great reader and kept up on the question of the day. The week previous to her death she had attended the Monday Afternoon Club on Monday, had entertained at a church tea on Thursday and on Friday evening had been present at a D. A. R. meeting.

She began feeling badly on Saturday and went to the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. W. Wilkinson where she might have care but she grew rapidly worse and was taken to the hospital on Sunday where she passed away.

Funeral rites are being held at 2 o’clock this afternoon from the Episcopal Church with Father Arthur F. Mitchell in charge and interment will be made in the Blair Cemetery.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society – Newspaper clipping on file in the Blair Public Library in Blair, Nebraska ~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #41916055