Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Goodsell, Mary E. (Davis) 1931 ************************************************ 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: Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net December 4, 2010, 8:39 pm Lake Odessa Wave, 20 Aug 1931 Mary Davis Goodsell A Christian Mother Mary E. Davis was born in Waterloo, N. Y., on November 24, 1846, and departed this life on August 11, 1931, at the ripe old age of 84 years, eight months, and 18 days. She was married to Dr. Joseph B. Goodsell on February 22, 1865, at Virgennes, Mich. To Dr. and Mrs. Goodsell were born six children, two of whom died in infancy. The husband and father, Dr. Joseph Goodsell, died on June 9, 1910, and a son Dr. John O. Goodsell, died on August 19, 1929. Mrs. Goodsell leaves to mourn their loss three children, Lizzie, now Mrs. James Quick, Byron, and Clare, all of Lake Odessa. Also eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mrs. Fred Norton of Howard City, Mrs. Fred Griffin of Lansing, and a host of relatives and friends. On September 18, 1884, she was converted in a Salvation Army meeting being held by Capt. McCracken in Travins hall at Lowell, Mich. Twenty years ago the twenty-eighth of this month she was received into the membership of Central Methodist church by the Rev. Alex T. Luther, coming by transfer of membership from Clarksville. During all these years she has been an earnest Christian and a devoted member of Central church. During the recent years failing strength has prevented her taking an active part in the work and fellowship of the church, yet she has maintained her hope and enjoyed a fine experience of the saving grace of God. She loved to tell the story of her conversion, and how she saw at the time an opening in the sky and a bright light shining through. She always had a testimony to give for Jesus who came into her life on that memorable night when she was born again. During the last few days of her life she seemed to possess a very unusual strength, and greatly enjoyed two trips to the old home town of Lowell during the centennial celebration. Last Sunday she attended the camp meeting in Sebewa. She expressed the conviction that it would be the last time she would visit the camp meeting, and desired to go and give her testimony to the saving grace of her Lord and Savior. It was on the following Tuesday about 1 o’clock in the morning that she, who had lived a long life of consecration to her Master and in devotion to her family was stricken, and a few hours later passed to her eternal reward. The poet has well expressed her confidence in these words: “With Thee, my Lord, I do not fear To cross the threshold of the mystic door. I shall not falter, for I find Thee near, For Thou has passed the portico before. Let me clasp Thy hand; I see A heaven of happiness with Thee!” “Servant of God, well done! Thy glorious warfare’s past. The battle’s fought, the race is won, And thou are crowned at last.” “Jesus while our hearts are bleeding O’er the spoils that death hath won, We would at this solemn meeting Calmly say, ‘Thy will be done.’ “By Thy hand the boon was given, Thou hast taken but Thine own, Lord of earth and God of Heaven, Evermore, ‘Thy will be done.’” The funeral was largely attended at the home on north Main street Thursday afternoon. The sermon was by her pastor, the Rev. Ora P. Bulman. Mrs. Matt M. Armstrong and Mrs. William C. McCartney sang. Burial was at Lake Side cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/g/goodsell10161nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb