Marie JOHNSTON NELSON
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MARIE JOHNSTON NELSON Newspaper: The Nashua Reporter Date: November 29, 1923 Former Nashua Girl Dies on Way to Nashua to Visit OId Home - Funeral at Little Brown Church It was with a feeling of profound sorrow and dismay that the sad tidings of the death of Mrs. Marie Johnston Nelson was received in this community – her girlhood home. Last reports from her had been so favorable, and the brothers and sisters here were looking forward with happy anticipation to her approaching visit with them, when the message came that she had fallen into her last long sleep, and her great desire to again see them all could not be fulfilled. Marie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Johnston, first saw the light of day on June 10, 1873, on a farm near Republic, Iowa. Here she received her education in the schools of Chickasaw county, here she grew to young womanhood and here she began her chosen work as a teacher in the public schools. In this work she came in contact with many people and, by her sterling traits of character and a pleasing personality endeared herself to a wide circle of friends, for to know Marie was to love her. And today, these friends are grieving with the relatives at her early demise. Such lives are needed to help others to a fuller and truer realization of life. After teaching in this vicinity for some time she decided to go west and there carry on her work, and while at Livingston, Mont., she met and married F.E. Nelson, on June 28, 1900. Several years later a little daughter came to brighten the home, and the family were enjoying life to the fullest when illness of the wife and mother slowly crept in to mar the happiness of the home. The husband who was ever kind and thoughtful, finally decided to move to Tacoma, Wash., to see if the change might not benefit her health. This seemed for a time to be true and her condition had improved to such a degree that her physician gave his consent to her heart’s desire to visit again her childhood home and her loved ones there. With this happy anticipation she started Oct. 11, with her husband and little daughter, and her sister, Mrs. Elmira Wesp, for her trip to Iowa. They arrived at Webster, S.D., where they went to the home of her sister, Mrs. George Pierce, and spent an enjoyable two weeks. At the end of two weeks she was taken sick and had to take to her bed to remain for three weeks. Then, as she was convalescing nicely and able to mingle again with the family the end came without warning and she who had been with them but yesterday had been summoned by a messenger who, sooner or later, cometh for us all. On that last morning, Sunday, Nov. 18, she appeared more cheerful and happy and had been helping her little daughter and little niece prepare the Sunday school lesson and commit the memory verse. A little later her husband brought her from the bedroom and placed her in an easy chair, when she spoke his name, her head sank upon her breast and her plans were left incomplete, but God’s plan for her had been fulfilled, the silver cord had broken and Marie had gone home. During her residence in the west, she was a faithful member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and had held the honored position of Worthy Matron of the Chapter at Whitehall, Mont. The body arrived in Nashua Thursday and was taken to the home of Mrs. Tillie Castor. The funeral services were held at the Little Brown Church Saturday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m., Rev. Elmer E. Shafer officiating and the body was consigned to Mother Earth in Greenwood Cemetery. Those who survive to mourn their deep loss are the husband and little daughter Marja (who was ten years old on the day of the funeral) and the following sisters and brothers: Mrs. Elmira Wesp of Wenatchee, Wash.; Mrs. Geo. Pierce, Webster, S.D.; Mrs. Tillie Castor, Mrs. J. H. Smith and George and Andrew Johnston of this vicinity. Contributors notes: |
