Former Resident Write Her Own Obituary

A month prior to her death Mrs. Lulu McConnaha Whitman of Missouri wrote her own obituary giving it to her husband with the request that it be published in The Enterprise.

Mrs. Whitman, formerly Miss Lulu McConnaha, was a resident of this county for a long term of years and was a sister of Robert E. McConnaha of Herman who passed away eight days before her death. She has many friends here who will grieve to know of her death.

Following is the obituary which she wrote and which is reproduced exactly as it came to the editor’s desk:

“Lulu McConnaha Whitman was born near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, on March 12, 1876, and departed this life at Ava, Missouri, June 20th, 1938.

Even as a child she was possessed of an indomitable will and strong determination. When less than twelve years old she fought her way home from school for over a half mile in the teeth of the raging blizzard of January 12th, 1888 in which hundred lost their lives.

She was converted early in life and lived a consistent Christian life, always working with God’s people of whatever denomination with whom her lot was cast, but maintained her membership in the Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Eastern Star for many years, but moving away so far she could not attend lodge, she took her demit.

She graduated from the Blair High School in 1900 and from Fremont Teacher’s college in 1907. This gave her a teacher’s life certificate and a Bachelor of Science degree. She taught school for twenty-five years and always enjoyed her work and had remarkable success in her work. She never taught a term of school that she was not asked to return the following year. The last fifteen years she taught in the eighth grade at Gordon, Nebraska.

On June 15th, 1921, she was married to W. Whitman. They took up ranching and farming and amassed a competency. When the disastrous years of drought and low prices came they did not want to give up their holdings and thinking the next year would be better, they saw their fortune melt away. At last in desperation they sold their land, stock, machinery and household goods for a slight fraction of what it had cost them and came to the Ozarks.

They were just getting established here when Mrs. Whitman’s health failed.

She planned for her death as calmly as for a short journey---even planned her funeral which she wished as simple as possible and requested no flowers.

Beside her husband, she leaves to mourn her loss, two sisters and three brothers.

Weep not that her toils are over, Weep not that her race is run. God grant we may rest as calmly When our work, like hers, is done. Till then, we yield with gladness Our dear one to Him to keep, And rejoice in the sweet assurance, He giveth His loved one sleep.