Obituary of Myrtle Laymon, Washington Co, AR

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Submitted by: Barbara A Lewis <>
        Date: 14 Feb 2002
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Sulphur City, Arkansas
13 July 1897

Died, of typhoid fever, at her home near Sulphur City, July 9, 1897,
Myrtle, daughter of Mrs. H. H. Laymon, aged 13 years.  She was small for
her age, but was an exceptionally bright child, quick to learn and a close
observer of passing events.  She was of a pleasant disposition, had a smile
and kind word for all, was regular in attendance at church and sabbath
school and always had her sabbath school lesson perfect.
The second Sabbath in June was the last time she was permitted to attend
Sabbath school.  A few days later she was taken down with the fever, and
suffered for twenty-three days when death came to her relief.  All through
her sickness she was in her right mind.  She bore it all patiently not a
murmur escaping her lips, and on the day of her death only a short time
before her departure, when surrounded by the family and friends, and
without there being a word spoken in regard to her approaching death, she
requested her grandfather, Rev. Johnson Crawford, to pray with her.  After
prayer he asked her if she felt willing to die.  She answered: "Ah, yes, I
am going to heaven and I want you all to be sure to meet me there."  She
then prayed a beautiful prayer, entreating the Lord to bless them all and
enable them all to live so they would meet her in heaven.  She then called
the family one by one and exacted from each a promise that they would meet
her in heaven, and was particular in requesting that they write two of her
uncles, John and Date Crawford, who were away from home, to prepare to meet
her in heaven.  She continued talking for some time exhorting those who had
promised to meet her in heaven to stand firm and prove true to what they
had promised.  She then called on them to sing.  Someone started the old
hymn, "Jesus Lover of my Soul."  She joined in and sang it through and a
short time after her soul took its flight to the realms of eternal joy, and
on the next day the remains were followed by the sorrowing family, friends
and neighbors to King's Church on the Middle Fork of White River, where
Rev. Stone, of the Baptist church, conducted the funeral services, after
which the body was laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery near by.  The
family have the sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement.
We would say to the family and friends, do not mourn as those who have no
hope.  You will miss Myrtle from the family circle, we will all miss her
from the church and Sabbath school, we will never again be permitted to
look upon her smiling face or hear her kindly greeting,  but let us
remember that if we prove true to the promises made her on her death bed
and live the life she prayed we might live, we will meet her in the
heavenly land where sickness, sorrow, pain and death never come.