Obit: Church, Mary E. (1864 - 1936)

Contact: Audrey Roedl

Surnames: CHURCH WEAVER AMBLE JOHNSON

----Sources: The Loyal Tribune 13 February 1936

Church, Mary E. (11 DEC 1864 - 4 FEB 1936)

The call of death came suddenly to Mrs. A. K. Church, as her friends feel she would have preferred. She was found dead at her home here Tuesday P.M., Feb. 4, 1936, presumably the victim of a heart attack for she had apparently been in good health up to this time.

Mary Elizabeth Weaver, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Weaver, was born in Richland Co. Dec. 11, 1864. She came here with her parents when three years of age and from then until she passed on Loyal was her home. Here she grew to woman-hood and taught in the school district now known as "Taft" but more familiarly known to older residents as the "Hall" school. She was married to Austin Church May 5, 1883. Mr. Church died in 1928.

Mrs. Church took an active interest in many worthwhile projects and many were the sacrifices she made to carry forward these projects.

The Pine Grove Cemetery stands as a monument to her untiring devotion to its reclamation from a bramble-grown grave-yard to one of the most beautiful cemeteries in our county,and here in her beloved cemetery friends sadly laid her to rest.

It was through her activity that during the World War many French was orphans were provided for by people in this community.

Very dear to her heart was the Piney Woods Country Life School, a school for orphan negro children at Piney Woods, Miss., and one of the mile-posts in her life was a vivit from Piney Woods Base Ball team last summer. Perhaps a quotation from a letter to Mrs. Church from Laurence C. Jones, founder and principal of the school will show whatnher work meant there, "My heart burns with thanks to the Heavenly Father for blessing us with such a friend as you. It has only been through faith in God and the assistance of such friends as you that I have been able to carry on these 25 years in Piney Woods.

Mrs. Church was a charter member of the Royal Neighbor organization and always took an active part in the work. It was at her suggestion that our local camp was named "Hope Camp"

Many were the kind deeds she performed in the community and old and young will sadly miss her.

Mrs. Church was of the Christian Science faith and a member of the Mother Church in Boston. A Christian Science Reader from Neillsville was expected to assist Rev. A, N. Chapman with the funeral services in the Methodist Church, Saturday P.M., at 2 o’clock, but due to one of the severest snow storms in many years all roads were blocked and the Rev. Chapman very ably took Charge.

Mrs. Church is survived by two sons, Fred of Loyal and Lynn of Detroit, Mich., two grand-daughters both of Loyal; two sisters Mrs. Nellie Amble of Auburndale and Mrs., Dollie Johnson of Loyal; and a brother Morris Weaver of Neillsville, Wis.

The beautiful floral offerings were in charge of Mrs. R. B. Colby, Miss Nettie Welsh, Mrs. O.W. Trindal, Mrs. Jack Shupe, and Mrs., Robert Wehling.

Mr. Milton Philpott, Mr. R. B. Colby, Mr. O. W. Trindal, Mr. Fred Lakosky, Mr. Robert Wehling, and Mr. John Shupe were pall bearers.

Due to the inclemency of the weather many relatives and friends who would otherwise have attended the services were prevented from doing so. Those who did attend from out of town were Mr. Lynn Church, Detroit, Mich., Mrs. Eric Amble, Auburndale; Mrs. Roy Luber, Marshfield; Miss Bessie Amble, Auburndale; and Mrs. Viola Rusk, Abbotsford, Wis.

To those who knew her well it seems that she would say as Tennyson said in his "Crossing the Bar"Sunset and evening star

And one clear call for me

And may there be no moaning of the bar

When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark.

For, though from out our bourne of time and peace

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my pilot face to face

When I have crossed the bar.