The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-03-16
Mrs. r. A. Bowman.

Mamie Dale Sylvester, daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. j. N. Sylvester, was born
in New Buda township, Decatur county,
Iowa, Feb. 4th, 1874, died at Leon, Iowa,
March 10, 1905, aged 81 years, month
and six days. Her last illness dated
from Feb. 4th and everything that med
ical skill and kind hands could do was
done, but to no avail. AS last resort
an operation was performed on last
Thursday by DR.. Ruth, Of Keokuk, but
the shock was too great and she passed
quietly and peacefully away the follow
ing morning at o'clock. She was
united in marriage to DR.. Fred A. Bow
man at Davis City, on June II, 1894, and
their married life was truly an ideal
! one. She was from child member of
the Advent church and faithfully did
she live the teachings of her religious
faith. Thus ends the career of soul
immortal so far as this life is concerned.
The brief words of the above sketch
ttell the sad story Of the passing of a
pure soul whom to know was to love.
"Dale"as she was familiarly and affect
ionately called by her friends, possessed
the rare combination of child-like beauty
OF face and form, with a strength Of
character, where her highest convic-
tions were concerned, unusual for one
even "f greater years, yet she never OBJ
truded her faith upon the attention Of
others. She simply lived it and thus
gained for it, and for herself the high
est respect from her associates. The
funeral was held at the M. e. church at
$3.50 o'clock Sunday and the large build
ing was filled to overflowing with those
who wished thus to express their love
for the departed and their sympathy for
the bereaved. The service was conduct
ed by Rev. DR.. Pitcher of the NJ. E.
church and Rev. w. A. Montgomery of
the Presbyterian church. Each read
from the scriptures words of promise
and helpfulness and added such words
of comfort and consolation as they were
able to draw from their own experiences
Of life and of christian faith. The music
under the direction of Mrs. C. E. Gard
ner was very beautiful. A quartette
consisting of Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. ]. A.
Caster, H. j. Vogt and ]. S. Warner sang
three selections, the first being "The
Ninety and Nine" the favorite hymn of
the deceased.
+ The various orders of which Mrs. Bow
man was member, The Eastern Star,
The Thirteen Club, of which she was
vice-president, and the P. E.O. society
we're represented by attendance of
members and by beautiful floral offerings
while the Knights Templars in uniform
formed guard of honor and escorted
the cortege to the silent city. The
white casket containing the beautiful
white robed body was almost hidden
beneath it's load of sweet flowers. This
was fitting, for no short-lived flower
ever shed abroad a sweeter fragrance
in the world than did this fair and love-
ly woman during the short stay she
made among the inhabitants of earth.
She wore ever "the white flower of a
blameless lifo" the memory of whose fra
GRANGE and beauty will linger long with
those who knew and loved her and will
continue to be an incentive toward all
pure, joyous and noble living. Such a
life lisa be1ediction, and for the privi-
lege of having been allowed to share and
enjoy it, even for so shorta time, her
friends should now give thanks.