Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Willett, Mary E. (Yates) 1909
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Ionia Standard, 25 Jun 1909

The remains of Mrs. Mary E. Willett, accompanied by her son, Dr. Herbert L. 
Willett, and his sons, Floyd, Robert and Paul, and by Dr. Errett Gates, a life 
long friend of the family, arrived from Chicago on Sunday morning, being met by 
the immediate relatives.

The large number of personal friends who gathered at the Church of Christ at 
2:30 in the afternoon to pay a last tribute to respect to the memory of Mrs. 
Willett, was a fitting testimonial to the regard in which she was held by those 
who had known her intimately during her many years of residence in Ionia, and a 
mark of the deep affection borne her by all who had come in contact with her 
personality.

The services were conducted by Rev. G. W. Moore, pastor of the Church of 
Christ, assisted by C. A. Preston, a life long friend of deceased, and Dr. 
Errett Gates of Chicago.  Mr. Moore having known Mrs. Willett but a short time, 
requested Mr. Preston, a charter member of the church with Mrs. Willett, to 
speak of her life and residence in Ionia, which Mr. Preston did in the 
following words:

All that is mortal of Sister Mary Willett is before us.  I have known her for 
over 60 years.  When I was 14 years of age I was a member of the Yates 
household for a month or more, when she was in short dresses.  From that time 
our acquaintance has been most friendly and without a break. 

In her girlhood, womanhood, wifehood, motherhood, and shall I say widowhood, 
she has been a model.  Reared in the home by the queen of a mother and the 
dignified and benign influence of a father above reproach, she was well 
equipped to fulfill the duties that came to her in later years.  In the 
exploitation for the plain people, and the cry for the perfect equality of all 
men everywhere and in all places, we sometimes forget the very great advantage 
that comes to the person who has been surrounded in early life with the 
refinements and atmosphere of an educated Christian home.  This Sister Willett 
possessed to a high degree.  No Sign Manual or Noblese Oblige of European 
nobility could ring truer for all that made life high and noble in its highest 
sense than the home of the Yates.

And with this training she made her home an ideal, and in a large sense it was 
the home of the Church.  All visiting brethren went to the Willetts by instinct.

And she received with quiet grace and dignity, whether in calico gown or dress 
more pretentious, and made no apologies.

While living in Ionia she rarely missed church service.  When I saw her at 
prayer meeting I knew her talk would be out of the ordinary and unstereotyped.  
She was a woman of no small literary ability, with a poetic strain running 
through her productions.  I have observed her written obituary on a mutual 
friend – in it she writes:  “It seems such a little way to me  Across to that 
strange country – the beyond,  And yet not strange – for it has grown to be  
The home of those of whom I am so fond.  They make it seem familiar and most 
dear,  As journeying friends bring distant countries near.”  

She did not live a half life.  Her equipments for the various duties that came 
to her in the changing kaleidoscope of existence were fully met.  It was not 
sunshine nor all shadow, not all cares and no joys.  In the loss of three sons 
and the beloved husband she experienced her share of sorrow.  But she did not 
wear her dead upon her sleeve.  Only to her most intimate friends did she talk 
of her bereavements. 

Her knowledge of the representative men and women of the Disciples in the state 
and nation was more comprehensive than any other member of the Ionia church, 
and her estimate of their ability or worth was unerring.  She is the first of 
our charter members to pass over the tide since our semi-centennial – leaving 
but twelve and two of those are lingering on the brink.  

She has left her impress upon her generation for good; the silent and perhaps 
unconscious influence of her grace, manner and conversation will be felt by all 
who knew her and will be imparted to those who are to follow.

Since the death of her husband in 1898 and for some years before, she ceased to 
be a resident of Ionia, and to the young people and new residents of the city, 
she was comparatively unknown, but to the old residents her memory will always 
be a sweet savor.

Happy are those who, in the sere and yellow leaf of life, can be assured of so 
kind, loving and considerate attention as had been given Sister Willett by her 
son and family in the months of suffering preceding her death.

Twenty years ago, at the 30th anniversary of this church, she wrote a very 
interesting paper.  Of one of the saints, she wrote the following stanza, which 
is so very appropriate and expressive of her own sweet character that I read it:

“That beautiful life has not gone out in darkness;  Broader and brighter that 
true light shall shine;  Tears for our loss and for those she left with us,  
But joy at the thought of her rapture divine.”

Dr Gates followed with a few well chosen remarks, telling of the personal 
regard in which Mrs. Willett had been held in her later home in Chicago, and 
expressing the deep loss felt by those who had come to know her intimately in 
her later years.  The bearers were T. B. Preston, Henry Robertson, Horace B. 
Peck and John V. VanVleck.

The music was by Miss Greta Benedict, Mrs. Thane Benedict, Dr. L. W. Yates and 
Thane Benedict, all nieces and nephews of the deceased.  Interment was at the 
North Plains cemetery.

Mrs. Willett was born on the Yates homestead, five miles north of Ionia, on 
January 23, 1839, being the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Yates.  On 
January 16, 1862, she was married to Gordon A. Willett, and to them four sons 
were born – Dr. Herbert L. Willett of Chicago being the only surviving child.


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