Obituaries of Mary Martha Stillwell, Velma G. Beace, Latham M. Wilson, Jessie E. Wilson, Leonard A. Wilson of Polk Co, Iowa ====================================================================== Submitted by Carol Fellows ====================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ====================================================================== MARY MARTHA MURPHY STILWELL Born -- December 20, 1886 in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa Died -- December 25, 1972 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa DES MOINES TRIBUNE, December 1972 "Mrs. Mary M. Stilwell, 86, of 800 Fourteenth Street, West Des Moines, died of complications from arthritis Monday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Marie Ivers, 442 S.E. Wall Avenue, after a seven-year illness. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at McLaren’s Funeral Home, with graveside services at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Hamilton Cemetery in Hamilton. Mrs. Stilwell was born in Knoxville and had lived in West Des Moines 50 years. Survivors include a son, Chester, of Polk City; two other daughters, Mrs. Velma Bearce and Mrs. Alta Pikus of West Des Moines; a brother; five sisters; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VELMA G. STILWELL BEARCE Born -- About 1907 in Buxton, Monroe County, Iowa Died -- May 20, 1990 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa DES MOINES REGISTER, May 22, 1990, page 3 "Velma G. Bearce, 83, of Woodbury West Health Care Center, 1211 Vine Street, West Des Moines, died of a respiratory ailment Sunday at Mercy Hospital Medical Center. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at McLaren’s Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery. Mrs. Bearce was born in Buxton. She had lived in West Des Moines since 1923 and retired from Younkers Department Stores. She also worked in the foster grandparent program at Valley Day Care Center and was a member of West Des Moines Christian Church and Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include two sisters, Alta Pikus of West Des Moines and Marie Ivers of Des Moines; and a brother, Chester Stilwell of Polk City. Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. today at the funeral chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to her church." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LATHAM M. WILSON Born -- July 20, 1885 in Eddyville, Mahaska County, Iowa Died -- July 18, 1960 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa DES MOINES REGISTER, July 19, 1960 "Services for Latham M. Wilson, 74, of 407 E. Seventeenth Street, who died of a heart ailment Monday at his home, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Hamilton Funeral Home. Burial will be in Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Wilson, a retired contractor, had been ill two months. Born at Eddyville, he lived here 50 years. He was a member of Beams of Grace Church. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary last January 19. Surviving are the widow, two sons, Donald E. of San Francisco and Leonard M. of Des Moines, five daughters, Mrs. Helen Hites, Mrs. Marie Burgett, and Mrs. Evelyn Smith of Des Moines, Mrs. Dolly Ford of San Francisco, and Mrs. Pearl Gates of Tempe, Arizona; two brothers Albert and Raymond Wilson of Albia; a sister, Mrs. Margaret Barnes of Lovilla, and nine grandchildren." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JESSIE ELLEN MURPHY WILSON Born -- October 22 or 26, 1888 in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa Died -- May 30, 1973 in Boone, Boone County, Iowa DES MOINES REGISTER, May 31, 1973 Obituary of Jessie Ellen Murphy Wilson (Des Moines Register, May 31, 1973): "Mrs. Jessie E. Wilson, 84, formerly of Des Moines, died Wednesday at Mac’s Nursing Home in Boone where she had lived since February after suffering a series of strokes. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Westover Funeral Home. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens. She was born in Knoxville and lived in Des Moines for 60 years. Survivors include two sons, Don of San Francisco, California, and Leonard of Boone; four daughters, Mrs. Dolly Ford of San Rafael, California; and Mrs. Marie Burgett, Mrs. Helen Hites, and Mrs. Evelyn Smith, all of Des Moines; a brother, Pat Murphy of Denver, Colorado; four sisters, Mrs. Harriett Bohner of Des Moines; Mrs. Ada Reed of Winterset; and Mrs. Nora Wahl and Mrs. Mildred Roark, in California; 17 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEONARD A. WILSON Born in Calhoun County, Iowa Died in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa DES MOINES REGISTER, Date Unknown "Leonard A. Wilson, 89, of 207 Summit Drive, West Des Moines, died of a heart attack Saturday at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. The body will be cremated and memorial Masonic graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Masonic Mausoleum. Mr. Wilson was born in Calhoun County and had lived in the Des Moines area many years. He was a retired Credit Collection Supervisor for Iowa Power and Light Company and was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, West Gate Adelphic Masonic Lodge, York Rite Bodies, ZaGaZig Shrine and Royal Arch Masons. He was also a hospital dad for the shrine. Survivors include his wife, Madge, a daughter, Jacquelyn Roberts of Des Moines, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends after services at the cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shrine Crippled Children’s Hospital or the American Heart Association. Arrangements are being handled by Westover Funeral Home." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== Submitted by Carol Fellows ====================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ======================================================================