Beckham County, OK - Obits: Melissa Shotwell, 1929
Saturday, 01 November 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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SHOTWELL, MELISSA
(22 Aug 1929, Thursday, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
One of Sayre's earliest and most popular citizens was lost this week, in
the passing of Mrs. B. H. Shotwell who died at her home here early Sunday
morning.
Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Tuesday morning at 1
o'clock.  The Rev. E. J. Bouher, pastor of the Presbyterian church at
Sentinel conducted the services and was assisted by The Rev. T. N. Weeks
and Tom Steele.  Pall bearers were: O. M. Marsh, J. T. Brickell, Oscar
Speed, Jake Marica, Judge R. S. Andrews, and P. J. DeVanney.  Littrell and
Moore were in charge.  Burial was in Buffalo cemetery.
Obituary.
Melissa Lawes was born near Blenheim, Ontario, July 12, 1853.  She was the
daughter of Caleb and Susannah Lawes and one of eight children.  She died
at Sayre, Okla., August 13, 1929.
She was married to Benjamin H. Shotwell of Lobo, Ontario, February 16,
1876.  To this union were born seven children, Maggie S. Bennett, Lawrence
E., Eli L. of Cheyenne, Okla., Pearl L. Davis of Lenox, Iowa, Charles W.,
deceased, Roy T., Sentinel, Okla., and Ida M. Cuff.
In the year 1880 Mr. and Mrs. Shotwell removed to Butler County, Neb., a
portion of a speculators' belt in which they were the first settlers and
where they lived until 1906 when they moved to Oklahoma.  They settled on
a farm one mile north of Sayre where they lived until 1920 when moved to
Sayre.
Mr. and Mrs. Shotwell united with the M. E. Church in Nebraska and were
charter members of the M. E. Church south in Sayre, and later united with
the Presbyterian Church in Sayre of which they were faithful members so
long as they lived.
Benjamin H. Shotwell died March 19, 1926.  Mrs. Melissa L. Shotwell leaves
a host of friends who morn (sic) at her passing.  She was a consecrated
Christian, true friend, and devoted wife and mother.
She was a charter member of the Sayre Delphian Club and an active member
until it ceased to function when she became a charter member of Sayre
Sorosis club of which she was a loyal and capable member.
Mrs. Shotwell was a woman of indomitable will which was never more plainly
shown than in her battle against the dreaded disease from which she was a
sufferer for two years.
Mrs. Shotwell was an outstanding character in the community and her loss
will be deeply felt by all with whom she came in contact.  Most of all she
will be missed by her sons and daughters who have lost her loving counsel
and devotion.

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