Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-19
OBITUARY..
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At the meeting Of the Epworth
League of the First Methodist Episco-
pal church Sunday evening the follow
ing in honor of. the late Miss Frances
Peters was read by Mrs. Dora Key
hoe:
Frances Devin Peters was born in
Ottumwa, Iowa, Nov. Q, 1868, and died
April IL, 1906. All her life with the
exception Of few years spent in Keo-
kuk, was passed in Ottumwa, and her
many friends knew her as a devoted,
earnest Christian girl. She was con-
verted and joined the Methodist
church at Keokuk at the age of 10
years. Being blessed with sweet,
sunny disposition, and remarkable
originality, she could say and do
things without giving a particle Of Of
fence, that others could not. She was
singularly bright and cheerful In her
home life, always optimistic, and a
general favorite among her friends in
the church, the Epworth League, and
the Young Woman's Christian asso-
citation. Those who came under her
influence were inspired by her exam
pie to nobler, better life. She was a
devoted daughter and sister, and a
true, sympathetic neighbor and friend.
"She gave her thought, her time and
strength to the thugs that were pure
and noble and Of good report. Always
loyal to her pastor, she thoroughly en-
joyed the various services Of the
church, cheerfully taking part by pray
er and testimony, whenever opportu-
nifty offered. not from sense Of duty,
but with a joyousness that always i'm
pressed one. At the meetings Of the
League and the Y. w. G. A.. she would
often call for the song, I'll Go Where
You Want Me to Co. and the senti-
ment therein expressed seemed to be
the keynote to her life. She was al
ways anxious to go, to say, to be, what
Jesus wanted her to. Nothing was too
hard for her and her friends never
heard her utter complaining word or
refuse any call that came to her. She
worked among the children as super
intendent of the Junior league until
failing health compelled her to give it
up. She attended Sabbath school and
church services, and as member Of
the Mercy and Help department Of the
Epworth League, visited and carried
delicacies to the sick and needy, and
the inmates Of the county hospital;
often with others, gave her Sabbath
afternoons to the prisoners at the Jail,
and was an untiring worker to the last
in the Young Woman's Christian asso-
citation.
Her work in the Epworth League
began at it's organization and her love
and interest in the work never tagged
as long as she was able to work.
Chapter 491, Epworth League, was or
ganized Feb. /, 1890, with fourteen
members enrolled. Feb. % IA more
joined, Fannie Peters being the nine
teenth person to enroll. May 8, 1890,
was the first election Of officers, with
Rev. G. L. Stafford, president; s. L.
Vest, first vice president, Fannie Pc
tiers, third vice president. She was al
SO one of the delegates from our
league to the first convention. of the
district Epworth League. She was aft
erwards a member of the cabinet at
different times, and filled the office Of
first vice president, one or two years,
with great profit to the league, and
many times efficiently represented our
league as delegate to conventions.
Thus from its organization to the
close Of her life, she has continuously
worked for the league, bringing to
each department, whether social or
spiritual, her very best efforts. 1t was
in the Mercy and Help department
that / knew her best, and never knew
anything that she was unwilling to do,
or try to do. Was there May break
fast or social, she would solicit, cook,
seryedo anything, often working far
beyond her strength. Another trait in