Mrs. J. S. Gearhard died at noon Sunday, January 28th, of chronic bronchitis, having been ill for a period of eight months. The funeral was at the Methodist Church yesterday at 2 o’clock, Rev. J. A. Johnson officiating. It was her request that Rev. P. Lang her former pastor, be second, but he couldn’t come.

Nancy Connell was born in Cole County, Missouri, near Jefferson City, August 9, 1843, and was therefore, 79 years ? months and 19 days old when she died. She was married to John Samuel Gearhard at Eagleville, Mo. March 4th, 1864, and their married life had extended almost nine ? over the half century mark. They came to Blair in June 1875, and it has been their home ever since but two years, 1886 and 1887, which were spent on a homestead near Chadron. Four children were born to them, Grant dying in infancy and Clyde died at the age of seven years.

Two daughters survive her, besides the husband, Arminta V., Mrs. Harry Sappenfield of this city, and Edith, Mrs. Newt Sutherland, of Cheyenne, Wy., eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland arrived Saturday in time to see her and to be recognized by her before the end came the next day.

The pallbearers were E. B. Redfield, Hugh Wright, Frank Cunningham, John McCracken, Harry Seltz and E. W. Schmidt. Mr. Gearhard and the surviving relatives have the sincere sympathy of many friends in their bereavement.

#2-Tribune 1 Feb 1923

Mrs. Sam Gearhard Dies After A Long Illness

Mrs. Sam Gearhard passed away at her home in this city Sunday morning, January 28, after a long illness of chronic bronchitis.

Nancy Connell was born in Coles County, Missouri, August 9, 1843, and was 79 years of age at the time of her death. She was married to John S, Gearhard March 4, 1864, at Eagleville, Mo. Four children were born to them. The only son, Grant, died in infancy and a daughter, Clydie, died at the age of seven years. Two daughters survive Arminta – Mrs. Harry Sappenfield, of this city – and Edith – Mrs. Newt Sutherland, of Cheyenne, Wyo.

Mrs. Gearhard came with her husband to Blair in June, 1875, and with the exception of the years 1886 and 1887, which they spent at Chadron, had resided here ever since. She had been in failing health for several years and for the past eight months had been confined to her bed. Her daughter, Mrs. Sappenfield, had given her treatment and care, and the other daughter, Mrs. Sutherland, had made frequent visits to mother during her long illness and administered to her in every way possible. During the past several months a nurse has been in attendance. Mrs. Gearhard was a woman who was happy in her home life and her family and had never cared a great deal for life outside the home. She had many warm friends who loved her for her real worth.

The funeral was held at the Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, Rev. J. A. Johnson officiating. A quartet consisting of Dr. C. P. Mead, F. W. Arndt, Mrs. Annie Martin and Ethel Mead sang several selections.

Mrs. Gearhard is survived by her aged husband, the two daughters, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Six friends of the family who bore her frail body to its last resting place were Hugh Wright, E. W. Schmidt, Frank Cunningham, John McCracken, Harry Seltz and Bert Redfield.

#3-1 Feb., 1923 - The Enterprise - Nancy Mary Gerhard

MRS. JOHN S. GEARHARD PASSES AWAY

Nancy Mary Connell was born in Cole Co., Mo. near Jefferson City August 9, 1843, and went to her crowning from her late home in Blair, Nebr. Jan. 23, 1923, aged 79 years, 5 months and 19 days. The deceased grew to womanhood in the state of her birth, and on March 4, 1864 in Eagleville, Harrison Co., Missouri, she and John S. Gerhard were married. Four children were born to this union, Grant, the elder child dying in infancy; Clyde died at the age of 7 years; Arminta, now Mrs. Harry Sappenfield of Blair, Nebr.; Edith, now Mrs. Newton Sutherland of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Mrs. Gearhard came to Nebraska with her husband and family in 1875 and settled at Blair where, with the exception of about two years spent on a homestead near Chadron, Nebr., she has made her home until the time of her death as stated above.

Her life among us has been one that has been marked by her upright living and her faithfulness to her friends. She has had but one thought uppermost in her mind, and that was to live a righteous and just life. She lived so that when the last call came she was able to wrap her robes about her and lay down as to pleasant dreams with no regrets and dread of the future.

She became a member of the local Methodist church August 27, 1893 under the pastorate of the Rev. G. H. Main.

She leaves to mourn, her husband, two daughters named above, eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a host of friends.

The funeral services were held at the Methodist church at 2 p.m. Tuesday with Rev. Johnson officiating, and interment was made in the family lot in the Blair cemetery where a host of friends followed the remains to the last resting place.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #108039939