A Saintly Woman Is Called To Her Reward

Mrs. Ellen Mead passed away at her home in this city February 10, 1923, aged 80 years, 10 months and 15 days.

Saturday morning the news of her death came like a flash out of a clear sky. For, while Mrs. Mead had been in delicate health for several years, she was able to be about the house and attend church and other gatherings, and only the evening before her passing she had gone out for a car ride with her son, Dr. Mead, and her daughter, Ethel.

Saturday morning while the young ladies of the household were preparing breakfast and looking after other duties of the home, Mrs. Mead arose and started to dress. The family heard her fall to the floor and hurried to her side, but the spirit had flown far beyond their reach and mother had passed to the beautiful shore where she was so well fitted to dwell.

Ellen Elizabeth Kepner was born March 26, 1842, in Pennsylvania, and when a small child came with her parents to Terre Haute, Ind., where they remained for several years, afterwards moving to Marengo, Iowa, where she taught school for some years. On July 4, 1866 she was married to James H. Mead and four children were born to them, all of whom survive the other and were in the home with her when the final summons came. They are Guy K. Mead, Charles Ray Mead, Gertrude and Ethel Mead.

In 1882 Mrs. Mead and family came to Washington county, Nebraska, and settled on a farm near Herman where they lived until 1887 when they moved to Blair, which place has since been her home.

Mrs. Mead was a devoutly Christian woman and her daily life exemplified the teachings of the Bible. She was converted at the age of twelve years and became a member of the Methodist church. She has been a member of the local church for over thirty-five years and has been one of the most faithful, loyal members the church ever knew. She was constant in her church attendance and never failed to contribute liberally to any charitable or worthy cause. She was a member of the W.R.C. and W.C.T.U.

Not only in public and church life did she do her part. In her home she has always been the guiding star of the spiritual and secular life, and by her quiet, gentle manner the machinery moved without friction. She was a faithful friend and a splendid neighbor, always considering as her neighbor anyone whom she could help. She was a Good Samaritan always, and “Grandma” Mead, as she was affectionately called by all the younger people, was a much loved woman, whose children idolized her.

Besides rearing her own children, she took into her home her three grandchildren who were left motherless at an early age and reared them to perfect young womanhood. She will ever be held in tenderest recollection by these young ladies.

Although the day of the funeral, Monday, was inclement, and the sky hidden by leadened clouds, there was a large crowd present at the church to pay the last tribute of love and respect to this saintly little woman, who looked like a little fairy in her last sleep. Her pastor, Rev. J. A. Johnson, preached the sermon, using for his text the 5th verse of the 116 Psalm, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Rev. W. H. Underwood assisted reading the scripture lesson and offering prayer. A wealth of flowers were mute testimonies to the esteem in which she was held.

A quartet consisting of Gifford Dixon, Mrs. J. M. Kyde, Mrs. W. H. Myers and Nels Lindberg sang “The Solid Rock,” and Gifford Dixon sang, “Nearer the Great White Throne.” Mrs. Geraldine Kemp Stewart rendered “Traumrei,” by Schumann, on violin and Mrs. E. J. Hancock presided at the organ.

The pall bearers were E. W. Schmidt, Archie Anderson, J. L. Edwards, J. E. Lutz, Henry Grimm and C. B. Bunn.

Mrs. Mead was laid to rest at the summit of the hill in the beautiful Blair cemetery by the side of her husband who passed away many years ago.

Besides the children there are seven grandchildren: James Mead, who is now in China; Robert, Elizabeth and Paul Mead; Mrs. Ruth McLauchlin of Whittier, Calif.; Mrs. Gladys Child of Omaha, and Miss Grace Mead of this city who teaches at Rosalie. There is one great grandchild, the little daughter of Mrs. Child. She is also survived by an aged brother and sister Robert Kepner of Maringo, Iowa; and Mrs. M. M. Hench of Sebastapol, Calif.

To the bereaved family the tenderest sympathy of the entire community is extended, and many sympathetic tears are shed for them and with them in their grief.

#2-Pilot 14 Feb. 1923

Death came to Mrs. J. H. Mead at an early hour last Saturday morning in his most pleasing aspect. She was about as well as usual when she went to bed and started to get up early as was the habit in that household, to do the family washing. Gertrude had gone into the basement to prepare the clothes and Ethel was getting breakfast. She heard a fall in her mother’s room and rushed up to see what had happened. Mrs. Mead had gotten up and started to dress, but her tired old heart had given way and she lay dead on the floor. There was no illness, with its attendant suffering, no days of anxiety and care on the part of the children, the end came suddenly as did also the grief of the household, but she was at rest, after an active life of almost 81 years. And she was a most fortunate mother, for in her last days all four of her children were with her in the house, Dr. C. R., having made his home there while his wife is in Sioux City, where the children are attending school. The funeral was held at the Methodist church at 2:30 Monday afternoon, Rev. J. A. Johnson, her pastor, officiating, assisted by Rev. W. H. Underwood, her former pastor. The many beautiful floral tributes and the large crowd in attendance showed something of the high esteem in which Mrs. Mead and her family are held in the community. Ellen Elizabeth Kepner was born in Pennsylvania March 26th, 1842, so was almost 81 years of age. When she was but a child her parents moved to Terre Haute, Ind., later to Marengo, Ia., where Miss Kepner taught school for several years. On July 4th, 1866, she was united in marriage to James H. Mead. They came to Nebraska in 1882 and settled first at Herman, coming to Blair in 1887. Mr. Mead died in September of 1904. She is survived by four children, Guy K., Chas. R., Gertrude and Ethel. Also one sister, Mrs. M. M. Hench, of California, and one brother, Robert M. Kepner of Marengo, Ia. There are seven grandchildren and one great grandchild, Marian Childs, aged fourteen months, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Childs, of Omaha. Mrs. Mead joined the Methodist church at the age of twelve and united with the Blair church November 27th, 1887. She loved her church and was a faithful attendant up to the very last Sunday she spent on earth. She was a charter member of the W.R.C., of whom there are now but two living, and a member of the W.C.T.U. These activities alone would tell something of the character of the deceased if nothing else were known, but her beautiful Christian life is attested by all who knew her. Her sweet and sunny disposition seasoned with dashes of quisical honor was always a delight to her many friends. She loved her family as only a mother can love, and it was returned in volume as well as kind. This made for a beautiful and happy life that came to a sudden end last Saturday, but the influence and the memory of it will live forever.

#3-15 Feb., 1923 - The Enterprise - Ellen Elizabeth Mead (Note: Marengo (or) Maringo, Iowa?)

MRS. ELIZA MEAD

Ellen Elizabeth Kepner was born in Pennsylvania March 26, 1842, and passed away at her home in Blair Feb. 10, 1923, being thus past 80 years of age.

When but a small child the deceased, in company with her parents, left Pennsylvania and moved to Terre Haute, Indiana and later to Marengo, Iowa where Miss Kepner grew to womanhood and taught school for a number of years.

On July 4, 1866 she was married to James H. Mead, and to this union four children were born, Guy, Charles, Gertrude and Ethel, all living in Blair.

Mr. and Mrs. Mead came to Nebraska in 1882, and settled first in Herman where they resided until 1887 when they moved to Blair where they have since resided.

The deceased was known as a kindhearted, sincere Christian woman and her friends were numerous.

The funeral services were held Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the Methodist church, Rev. Johnson officiating, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

Besides her four children already mentioned, she leaves a sister, Mrs. M. M. Hench of California and one brother, Robert M. Kepner of Maringo, Iowa, also seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The Enterprise extends sympathy to the sorrowing family.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #115993900