Obituary: Mary J. Tunnell, 8 December 1885 - Smith County, TX Contributed by Vicki Betts 8 January 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, June 10, 1886, p. 7, c. 3 TUNNELL.—Sister Mary J. Tunnell, daughter of W. N. and Sallie McMurry, and wife of Rev. P. O. Tunnell, was born in Alabama, December 16, 1846; was married to Bro. Tunnell by Rev. Joshua Starr January 10, 1866; died in Smith county, December 8, 1885. She professed religion and joined the M. E. Church, South, when about twelve years of age, and lived a consistent Christian life until removed to the church triumphant. She had no children of her own, but reared two orphan children given to her, whom she loved most dearly. She taught them to pray, which they punctually observe, and often speak of what she said and did for them. Lord help them ever to observe the advice and follow the example, of their adopted mother. We buried her remains in the cemetery at Shiloh Church, Smith county, in the presence of many sorrowing friends, there to rest until the Lord shall descend with a shout and the dead in Christ shall rise. Then her glorified spirit, that will accompany Him, will be reunited with the body and ever be with the Lord. Dear brother, we thank God for the Christians' hope, and that you are waiting and looking for the happy meeting in the "sweet by and by." May the Lord bless you and the adopted children doubly orphaned, preserve and keep you blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. "He gave thee, he took thee, and he will restore thee." "The graves of all his saints he blest And softened every bed; Where should the dying members rest But with their dying head?" W. N. Bonner. Tyler, Texas.