Obituary

“Text Isaiah 33:17- Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off.”

Mrs. Nellie Thompson was born in Port Leyden, New York, January 14, 1867. She was one out of eight children born to James W. Chard and wife. For several years the family lived in Canada from whence they moved to Blair in 1882.

July 10, 1884, Miss Nellie was married to O. C. Thompson by Elder Holmes, pastor of the Baptist Church of this place. The following year viz. May 12, 1885, she was called to mourn the loss of her mother.

To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born four children, three of which are now alive and one died in infancy, in the spring of 1886. For about six years her health has been very poor but much worse for the past two years. Since last October she has taken to the bed most of the time. All that medical skill could possibly do for her was done, and all that good care and attention could do for her was done, the husband sparing no expense for her comfort, relief, and convenience, but none of these could save her. Day by day she wasted away with consumption until Tuesday night about 11:50, when her spirit quietly and peacefully crossed over the river to be with Jesus and loved ones who had passed on before, leaving tender father, a loving husband, three bright children, several brothers and sisters and many friends to mourn the loss.

During the revivals in the Baptist Church in April 1883, when the pastor, A. Weaver, was assisted by Evangelist Thompson, she was converted and was baptized April 5, 1883. She has been a faithful Christian ever since and though deprived of the opportunity of meeting there as often as she desire, yet she has always been ready to do what she could for her Lord and Master. She was not a gloomy Christian, but a happy one and when she testified it was always joyous. Many times she started for church when she was obliged to rest by the way-side or turn into some church nearer by. I called on her several times and read and prayed with her and always found her hopeful and having a firm trust in God. There seemed to be continual sunshine in her soul and when some kind friends came near the window Tuesday night and sang “There’s sunshine in my soul today”, she thought it was the prettiest piece she ever heard. Among her favorite hymns were “Safe in the arms of Jesus” and “The crowning day is coming”; and when the choir was singing at a funeral “By cool Siloam’s shady rill, how fair the lily grow”, she said she wanted that sung at her funeral. Little did she think she would be called home so soon.

#2 Printed in the April 22, 1893 Blair Courier, Blair, Nebraska

… Nellie, wife of O.C. Thompson, … at her home in Blair on Tuesday ….ng of consumption. She suffered … and patiently, the best medical …had been employed, but none could stay the voyages of the dreadful disease. Her funeral was preached at the residence Thursday afternoon, and her remains were laid to rest by …and loving friends in the Blair cemetery.

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

FindaGrave #103288573