Two Zaida Myers’s obituaries, Sparta, Kent County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Dennis Zank. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RURAL TEACHER, ZAIDA MYERS, DIES Miss Zaida Myers, for many years a teacher in Kent county schools, died unexpectedly at her home near Sparta Sunday morning. She had been in poor health for some time. When members of her family planned a week en trip she said she felt too tired to accompany them. When they returned they found her in a dying condition. She was a native of Sparta township. She graduated from Western State College. She was a member of Harmony Chapter Eastern Star of Sparta. She taught in Ottawa county schools for 6 years, and in Kent schools 30 years. She had many friends in the educational field, and throughout the county. Rev. Charles W. K. mills conducted the funeral Tuesday at the Bettes-Hessel Chapel in Sparta and interment was in Myers cemetery. Miss Myers is survived by 3 sisters, Mrs. Netta Pease of Cincinati, Mrs Tina Gain of Leland, Mrs. Belle Montgomery of Sparta; and by a brother, Don Myers of the home. Date and paper unknown ZAIDA MYERS, WHO DEVOTED LIFE TIME TO TEACHING, DIES Zaida L. Myers, 53 died at her Sparta home on 13-mile road, Sunday July 31 after a short illness. She was born Sept. 7, 1800 the daughter of Henry and Sophia Myers of Sparta township She taught school for 30 years in Kent County and six years in Ottawa County. She graduated from Sparta High school in 1910 and from Western State Normal College. She was a member of Harmony Chapter No. 3 O.E.S. Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Netta Pease of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mrs. Tina Gain of Leland; Mrs. Belle Montgomery of Sparta; several nieces and nephews. A sister, Mrs. Myrta Hicks, preceded her in death. Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Bettes-Hessel Memorial Chapel, Rev. C. W. K. Mills officiating, with burial in Myers cemetery. AN EDITORAL TRIBUTE The death of Zaida Myers removed from the community a highly respected citizen who devoted a life time to the teaching profession. Its interesting to note that all of the time was spent in country school better known as the "little red school house". We had rural schools long before the highly specialized city schools became a part of our national life. In these rural schools, where pupils frequently walked miles in all kinds of weather, carrying their lunch boxes and strapped school books, they were taught by teachers who gave much of their time thought and energy with out reward, of shorter school periods. These rural teachers took their work seriously. Their tasks were I many instances thankless but they disregarded the unpleasant features and took special care to be fair and to see that justice was done. Many went beyond the ordinary demands of their duties by spending countless hours at home on important matters of school administration. Zaida Myers started teaching in the Foxville school in 1910. Taught in the Wyoming school six years, Lee one year, Chalmers six years and the last 12 years at Myers school, from which she retired about two years ago. Her first salary was only $288 for the year's work. Her mother was born in Sweden. Her father held all the township offices from Supervisor to Treasurer. Her brother Don has been a member of the Sparta township board of review for 21 years. Land for the Myers school and cemetery were gifts of the grandparents. Ziada Myers liked teaching arithmetic, history, and majored in instillic patriotism and love of country the hearts of her pupils. The flag was displayed wherever she taught. If any of her pupils ever failed in examinations. Her long term of public service empifies the higher type of citizenship. Our country remains free and great because of the devotion shown by the teachers of our rural schools of which Zaida Myers stood high on the list!