OBITUARY - RETHA IVY HENSLEY HAYLEY, Coke County, TX

GONE TO REST

Retha Ivy Hayley (Nee Hensley) one of the community's most worthy and 
promising young women was born in Kimbal Co Nov. 8 1903, come with her 
parents Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Hensley to the Bronte community some few 
years ago.

Retha possessing the distinctive characteristics of a model character 
soon won the esteem and confidence of all the people that made her 
acquaintence.

In the home she was loving kind and true, ever seeking to make the 
father and mother happy and be helpful to her brothers and sisters, 
always gladly sharing the burdens and joys of the home.

In school, she was obedient, energetic, kind and true, always in her 
place, and allowing none to pass her in her course of study.  It was 
said by those who taught her "that she was a model pupil."  Year by 
year she walked and lived this way, until at the closing of the 
commencement exercises of the Bronte High School, on May 17, past.  
She stood together with six other class mates receiving a certificate 
of graduation from the Bronte High School.

Retha was reared in a christian home and in the Sunday school.  She heard 
the kind and loving voice of the Lord Jesus Christ as He called, "daughter 
give me thy heart," and with a glad response she said, "All to Jesus I 
surrender, all to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, in 
his presence daily live."  And to this promise and trust she ever held 
sacred to her heart.  She loved her church and enjoyed her religion, and 
ever refrained from any thing that would reflect upon her christian 
profession.

On Sunday morning May the 20th last she was married to Hubert Hayley, one 
of Bronte's most prominent and prosperous young men.  These two hearts 
were knit together and for these few short days they were happy in other's 
embrace.  Place and arrangements were made for a great future, but a 
fatal disease took hold and the evening shadow begin to fall.  Every 
thing was done that a fond and loving husband, physicians, nurses and 
friends could do, to destroy the disease but all in vain.  Saturday June 
2nd Retha realized that the end was near, and spoke to those around her 
bed side, in a bountiful and loving way of the prospects and brightness 
of the future.  She sang two or three songs, and called upon a friend, 
Mrs. Pruitt to lead in prayer.

One of the songs she sang so beautifully was, "There will be no dark valley 
when Jesus comes".  Then closing her eyes to this vail world, she was borne 
by the Angels of Mercy to rest, and placed safely in the arms of Jesus whom 
she had trusted.

A gloom fell over the whole community and all services of the day was called 
in at her church except the funeral service which was held at 4 o'clock.

It was estimated that there was at least a thousand people attended this 
service, bearing flowers in profusion with hearts beating sympathy with the 
bereft families.

She leaves to mourn her death her devoted husband Hubert Hayley, her father, 
mother, four brothers and four sisters and a host of near relatives and 
friends.  Her class mates all dressed in white, tenderly placed the flowers 
upon the little mound that marks the resting place of her body, to await the 
day of triumph, when the earth and sea shall give up their dead, and their 
mortal shall put on Immortality.  She has gone, but weep not dear friends 
as they that have no hope but rather rejoice for she, her Immortal Soul, 
has only gone to Glory.

Earth has lost but heaven has gained another star of light, life and beauty.  
Words cannot express our grief nor sympathy for Brother Hubert, and all the 
bereft ones, and we can only say trust in, and look to Jesus who is giving 
strength in the hour of need.  And in, whose care this beautiful life now 
rests.

Her Pastor, W. E. Anderson

Bronte Weekly Enterprise, Bronte, Coke Co, TX, Friday, 8 June 1923

Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net

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