Three obituaries: Obituary printed in June 26, 1913 Blair Democrat, Blair, NE; Obituary printed in July 2, 1913 Tribune, Blair, NE; News article/obituary printed in a contemporary Blair, NE newspaper (unnamed)

Note: the obituaries refer to a cemetery in “South Omaha” by St. Mary’s Church. There was a cemetery named St. Mary’s, but then when the area was developed, many of its graves were moved to Holy Sepulchre, which is Omaha’s oldest active cemetery. Both cemeteries have Shea’s and Murphy’s, of that time period, but it is difficult to identify which cemetery was used. However, the 3rd obituary mentions that her father, Michael Murphy, was a well-known resident of South Omaha for many years. That seems strong enough to tie her to Michael Murphy, the man who was a buyer for Cudahy’s meat.

Mrs. Shea Dies (obituary June 26, 1913 Blair Democrat)

Mrs. J. M. Shea, wife of the local manager of the Nebraska Telephone Company, died suddenly Sunday morning of complications following childbirth.

Mrs. Shea was a daughter of Michael Murphy, formerly of South Omaha, and grew to womanhood in South Omaha. She leaves behind her a husband and two children.

The remains were shipped to South Omaha Monday night after a short service and the home where Father O’Driscoll officiated. Services will be held at St. Mary’s church in South Omaha and the interment take place from there.

Mr. and Mrs. Shea came to Blair a year ago and have made many friends here. The Democrat joins these friends in extending sympathy to the bereaved husband. Father and Miss O’Driscoll accompanied the remains to Omaha.

Sudden Death.

Mrs. Alice Shea, wife of J.M. Shea, local manager of the Nebraska Telephone Co., died very suddenly Sunday morning of chronic Bright’s Disease complicating confinement.

A little daughter was born to her on Saturday evening and the mother survived but eleven hours afterward.

A funeral service was conducted Monday evening at the home by Father O’Driscol, and the remains were taken to So. Omaha where funeral mass was read at St. Mary’s church and interment made in So. Omaha where her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Murphy reside, and where Mrs. Shea was reared.

To the grief stricken husband and two little daughters and other relatives the sympathy of the entire community is extended in this hour of sorrow, coupled with the hope that time will soon heal the sorrow.

The deceased was a most estimable lady and had made many friends in Blair during her year’s residence in the city.

3rd Obituary (no date, but same yellowed newsprint)

Mrs. J.M. Shea Dead.

Mrs. Alice Murphy Shea, wife of J. M. Shea, Manager of the Blair office of the Bell Telephone for the past year, died at their home, on Colfax street, quite suddenly last Sunday morning, following the birth of a baby girl a few hours previously. She had passed the critical point which marks the experience of motherhood and was apparently progressing rapidly toward recovery when an affection of the respiratory organs suddenly developed which the attending physicians were unable to alleviate and her death occurred in a few hours.

Deceased was born and raised in South Omaha her father, Michael Murphy, being a well-known resident of that city for many years, and was married to J.M. Shea in September 1910, and beside her husband and new-born babe leaves a little girl two years of age. The Shea’s were members of the Catholic church and a short service was conducted by Father Driscoll at the home on Monday.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the news article date was used.

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

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