Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-10-13

One of the saddest events we have
had to chronicle for some time is
the death Of one of Bruneau valley e
fairest daughters, Miss Alice Whit
son, who, aftet illness, passed
quietly away at the home of her
father, J. t. Whitson, on Wednes-
day evening, October 6, 1896, at
o'clock.
Typhoid was the fatal fever which
cut off in her youth one of the purest
and most lovable characters that
ever gladdened a home or bright
ened community. The insidious
disease had too stealthily permea-
ted her whole system before it's
presence was detected to make the
services of a skillful physician of
any avail, when it was decided to
be necessary to call one in. Forum
ately, her sufferings were not great,
and her last moments peaceful and
beautiful with the beauty of q soul
purified from the things of earth.
Her sweet voice, heard so often in
the little church choir on Sunday
mornings, trilled like an angels in
Nearer my God to Thee" scarcely
three hours before she died, and her
last words we're those of the Lords
Prayer. Seldom does a soul wing
it's way to Heaven more beautifully.
Few are loved 80 we'll as was this
fair young girl whose life 'shone as
light" in the community where
she dwelt. Her noble and perfect
womanhood, her tender charity, her
faithful obedience to the rules of
right, her deep love and devotion
for her parents and other members
of her family, her pure, patient, I'M
selfish life spent only in doing good,
her faithful attendance at church
and Sunday school, her ministra-
tions to the sick or unfortunate,
made her the Christian she was,
and will furnish an example for her
friends, especially the young men
and women of the valley, to follow
in their own lives.
Alice Whitson was born in Boise,
Idaho, May 10, 1878, her fathers
and mothers families being among
the oldest residents of the Capital
city. Several years later she Wis
tied Des Moines and Mt. Ayr, Iowa,
in the care of her mother and COM
menced her education. After her
return, her father located in Bru-
neau valley, where the family has
since resided. Here she continued
her studies, and, being bright and
ambitious, excelled in her work, Sc
curing last April a teachers second
grade certificate. Proficient also in
music, drawing and painting, she
was fitted with the natural graces
of sweet, womanly character to
adorn any circle. Truly she was
the eight of the valley"
AT the time of her death she was
treasurer and librarian of the Bru-
neau Valley Sunday School.
The funeral services were held
Friday afternoon at the home of her
parents, the Rev. j. f. Mcpherson
of Weiser officiating. The beautiful
Episcopalian service for the dead
was read and the excellent choir
from Mountain Home, consisting Of
Mesdames Helfrich and Cowen and
Messrs. Madison and Cowen, rem
dered such music as is seldom heard
outside our large city churces-so
sweet, so sympathetic it was.
An immense concoulse of people
followed the remains to the Bruneau
valley cemetery, where the lovely
casket was literally covered with
exquisite floral offerings from
friends and the grave strewn with
blossoms afterwards. A few brief
words were said, the strains Of
Nearer my God to Thee" rose softly
sweetly on the air, the Lords Prayer
her last prayer-was said, and
all was over.
At the house the choicest flowers
were everywhere. They covered the
beautiful "ashes of roses" casket
they graced her last work, an un
finished oil painting; they were
twined in the chords of her silen'
guitar; they strewed tables and
stands and were scattered even or
the floor. Friends at Boise hac
sent lovely roses, etc, of the choices
varieties. Mrs. Rose Wilkins Of
Mountain Home a beautiful pillow
of crimson roses; Mrs. Howeth {
lovely cross of La France roses
Mrs. Mitchell of Bruneau, Mis-
Ida Wilson of Boise, Mrs. Tucke
and many others sent flowers
wreaths, etc.
The heartfelt thanks OF the be
reaved family are rendered to al
those who SO kindly and tenderl,
ministered to this loved one in he
illness, her last hours, and after he
spirit had flown. Enough can no
be said to thank the choir from Mt
Home, whose sweet music SO com
, forted the hearts of her friends, no
: could more comfort or consolation
J have been given than was by tn
well chosen and beautiful words {