Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Durkee, Bertha E.(Gates) October 4, 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net November 14, 2021, 12:57 pm Lake Odessa Wave-Time Fri. October 1, 1916 Bertha Gates was born March 7, 1875 in the township of Berlin, Ionia county, Michigan, where she lived with her parents and attended school at the Hartwell school house. In 1890 she commenced attending high school at Muir, Mich., where she finished her education. In December 1909 she moved with her parents to Saranac where she made her home until May 14, 1915 when she was united in marriage to Ellis W. Durkee of the township of Berlin, where she lived until the time of her death which occurred at the home of her parents, in the village of Saranac, October 4, 1916. Her illness dates back to December 1904, when she was operated on at Ann Arbor for carcinoma; after this she enjoyed fairly good health until November, 1915, when she retuned again to Ann Arbor where she was operated on again for the same trouble; but this not proving satisfactory, she returned to Ann Arbor again in August 1915, and not receiving any encouragement returned home. Her husband thinking perhaps she might receive some benefit took her on an extended trip through the West and South which she enjoyed very much. Returning home in October her friends had hopes she had received some benefit from the trip, but within a few weeks she commenced to fail until December when she was obliged to take to her bed, where she remained until the end. Her illness was a very painful on, which she endured quite patiently. She had no fear of death always feeling that she would meet her friends gone before and those yet to come. It grieved her to part with her husband and other friends to whom she was very much attached. She always believed and practiced the old saying; "IT is better to give than to receive." There was nothing she enjoyed better than making presents to her friends. Dr. Braley was the attending physician during all her illness, in whom she always manifested great faith, he having the counsel at different times of some of the best doctors in the state. All agreed that he was doing all that was possible, her husband sparing no time or expense in giving her all the care possible, always saying he wanted her to have every chance possible for recovery; it seems as though all was done that human hands could do. The first of June her husband brought her to the home of her parents in Saranac, to please her; where she was oblige to remain until the end. The funeral was held at her home in Berlin, following a short prayer service at the home of her parents, October 6, at 1:00 p.m. Interment was made in Lakeside cemetery, Lake Odessa, Mich.. Rev. E. Wooley conducted the services and undertaker Weed had charge of the ceremonies. The bearer were Charles Gates, Mark Gates, Ray Gates and H.C. Gates of Edmore. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, Ellis W. Durkee, of Berlin township; her father and mother, Mrs and Mrs David Gates, of Berlin township, and one sister Mrs.J.F. Lyon of Aiken, S.C. CARD OF THANKS We thank all who offered their services during the long illness of our wife, daughter and sister; and those who furnished autos the day of the funeral and also those who offered the use of their autos; and all our neighbors and friends who furnished flowers. We wish to thank the singers, also Elder Wooley especially who sacrificed his visit in Detroit to attend her funeral. Ellis W. Durkee Mr and Mrs David Gate, Mr and Mrs Charles Gates, Mr and Mrs J.F. Lyon File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/d/durkee41173nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb