A telegram received here early Monday morning related the sad news of the death of Mrs. Mary Prather, wife of Orley Prather, which occurred at their home in Colorado Springs, Colo. She was aged about 30 years.
The family expected to leave Colorado Springs yesterday for Astoria and funeral services will be arranged for after their arrival at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Prather in this city.
The decedent had been a resident of this community for many years but for the last few years had resided in Colorado Springs, where it was hoped the climate would prove a benefit to her declining health. She had been a sufferer from tuberculosis for some time and although she improved somewhat, her body was weakened beyond the power of nature to repair.
She is survived by her husband and one daughter, also her mother, Mrs. John Serff, who has dwelt in their home since the death of her husband a number of years ago, besides many other relatives and a host of friends, who mourn her departure.
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Mary Viola Serff-Prather was born April 19, 1891, near Astoria, Fulton County, departed this life, July 31, 1921, at her home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, being at this time, aged 30 years, 4 months and 12 days.
She grew to womanhood and received her education in her early home community. She was the daughter of John and Minnie Serff. Her little sister, Jennie, her father, and her two half sisters, namely, Mrs. Carrie Davis, and Agnes Heath all preceded her to the beautiful beyond, where sweet rest is unmolested.
On October 28, 1911, she was united in marriage with Orley Prather. This was a pleasant, happy home. Their little daughter, Wanda Luceil was their joy and pride. Mary leaves to follow her sweet christian example through the walk of life, her little daughter, a true loving husband, a faithful devoted mother, and one half brother, Sherman Serff of Peoria, besides many other dear relatives and a host of loving friends and neighbors who are grief stricken at her early departure from our midst.
Mary gave her heart to God early in life and united with the U. B. church at Oak Grove and has always lived a true, faithful christian life. Her every day life was beautiful and devoted to every good deed of kindness within her grasp and when the inevitable hour came, she was happy, trusting freely in Jesus, whose beckoning hand was quietly guiding her soul to the beautiful land where suffering is unknown.
“Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus,
When the parting hour is near,
When a soul in all its beauty,
Enters Heaven without fear.
When the joys of earth are severed,
From a precious one so dear,
To enchant the Heavenly blessings,
Of a perfect Savior’s love.”
Some four years ago, Mary was stricken with tuberculosis, and during all these days of suffering, she never complained, but each day grew stronger in her savior’s love.
During all her suffering, she was ever mindful of her home and her true love of her family expressed itself by her continued sacrifice and every effort to prolong her life with them. But when the shadows groped around her earthly life, “she was ready and willing to meet Jesus face to face on the shining shores of Heaven just beyond the tread of life; where the soul that’s ever ready, finds a home of pure delight. Where the angels reign supreme, ‘for God’s love is never ceasing,’ where the toils of life are over and we meet to part no more.”
The funeral services were conducted in the U. B. church by Rev. D. E. Baer of Westfield, Ill., assisted by Miss Ella Niswonger, pastor of the United Brethren church of Astoria, at 2 p.m., Thursday, August 4th, and the body was gently laid to rest in the Astoria cemetery. Every effort was made by her friends and neighbors, both in her home community and her recent home in Colorado Springs, to relieve her suffering and most especially by her dear mother, husband and little daughter and Father and Mother Prather. But when the final hour came all was well.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus