COLLIN COUNTY, TX - OBITUARIES - Mary Ellen Thomas DARNALL http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/collin/collintoc.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/collin/collintoc.htm#obits Contributed by: Kathy Wilcox, , 2 February 2003 McKinney Courier Gazette May 19, 1923 Mrs. J.R. Darnall Funeral Service Life and Character Sketch McKinney Octogenarian Mrs. J. R. Darnall departed this life at her home on North Benge street, Friday, May 18,1923 at 1:40 p.m. She lacked only a few days of being 80 years old. She was born at old North Middletown, Bourbon county, Kentucky. Her husband, Eld. J. R. Darnall preceeded her to the Heavenly home August 11, 1909. She leaves two brothers, Douglas Thomas and E. K. Thomas of Paris, Ky. One brother, Willie Thomas, died only a few days ago May 3, 1923, at his home in Paris, Ky. Three sisters survive, Mrs. Emma J. Thomas, of Plainview, Texas; Mrs. Candace Smith of Paris, Ky., and Mrs. Philip G. Boehm of Cincinnati, Ohio. All her children are living, Col. C.R. Darnall of Ft. Shafter, Honolulu; Mrs. George P. Brown, of McKinney; John T. Darnall and George W. Darnall, who live on the old homestead in the Cottage Hill community; Elder W.D. Darnall of Enid, Okla., Miss Henrietta Darnall, who resided with her mother at the time of her death; Dr. Moses Hubbard Darnall of Washington, D.C.. Elder Eugene Holmes of Cisco, Texas, conducted the funeral services at the family residence at 2 p. m. today (Saturday). He is a life long friend of the family and often visited in the home when they lived in the country. Mrs. Darnall was a woman of unusual culture and refinement and well educated. She was a pupil of Pres. J. W. Patterson, who for years had charge of Hamilton Female College, Lexington, Ky. Modest, reserved and of such a sweet temper that all who knew her readily realised her worth in friendship, influence in church work and charity towards all. She was a member of the Christian church for many years, having united with it in Kentucky in early life. She was a friend to all ministers regardless of church and was always glad to have them visit and pray with her. She was an invalid for about three years before her death. She suffered but little during her last days and quietly went to sleep on earth to awake in Heaven. God grant that her example may be followed by all who knew her. After the funeral service at her home on North Benge street, where relatives and loving friends gathered around the casket that nestled amid the beautiful floral offerings, heard the sweet songs she so much appreciated in life and the merited tender words of tribute by Brother Holmes many sorrowing friends followed the remains to Cottage Hill Cemetery where the last sad rites were had. The deceased and her husband were married in Kentucky Oct. 11, 1866, and soon after moved to Texas where they settled on the old homestead in the Cottage Hill coommunity in 1868. The family still own this dear old home where for over 40 years this happy pair lived and reared their children. Hallowed memories cling and cluster around this rural home where nature unfolded its beauty, where leaf, bud and flower, with delicate coloring of every hue, amid the song of birds combined to impress the hearts and minds of the occupants of the glory of God the creator of the universe. The passing of this dear patient Christian mother and friend is a personal Loss to everyone who knew her. We can best honor her in memory by emulating her virtues in our own lives. The mothers of men in every land of every clime leave their impress on the human race. To forget "mother,"--to cease to honor her, living or dead, is to turn backward the tide of civilization into the black night of ingratitude to womanhood, the greatest benefactors of the world. Many are the tributes penned in honor of "mother." The following clipped from the Christian Courier of this week is a simple poem, but vivid in its portrayal of how "mother" is missed. It's awful lonesome at our house 'thout Mother; It's just as quiet as a mouse "thout Mother. A.W. Father looks so lonely there Of evenin's sitting in his chair; It just isn't cheerful anywhere "thout Mother! It's awful hard to get along 'thout Mother; It seems like everything goes wrong 'thout Mother. 'Course Father does the best he can; But, then, you know, he's just a man 'An don't know how to fix and plan like Mother. Seems like I don't enjoy my play 'thout Mother; Things just get worse every day 'thout Mother! There's no one to mend my doll, Nobody's sorry when I fall-- Oh, home just ain't no place at all 'thout Mother! But Father says we must be brave 'thout Mother; 'Cause him an' me only have one 'nother; An' if we're brave an' strong, 'an true, An' good just like she told us to, We'll go up Home, when life is through, to Mother! Active Pall Bearers. Will O'Brien, Frank Perkins, Willie Webster, Tony McDonald, Jeff Smith, Henry W. Warden. Honorary Pall Bearers. D. W. O'Brien, R. C. Horn, D. C. Hill, Dr. T. W. Wiley, Clint Thompson, F. C. Thompson, I. A. Scott, J. W. Kerr, A. D. Stelzer, B. F. Gearhart, J. F. Wester, J. W. Field, T. H. Muse Sr., Capt. B. M. Board, Wallace Hughston, Walter B. Wilson, Prof. J. W. Moseley. ********************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************