The Somerset reporter., 1909-05-06
Death of Mrs. Z. P. Xiles.

Viles, died at the Sisters Hospital in
Lewiston, Monday evening, as a re-
suit of an operation performed the
previous Saturday for the relief OF
appendicitis. The news came with
startling suddenness, as few outside
her own family knew that she was out
of town or even that she was not in
her usual good health. The trouble
which made the operation advisable
did not make itself manifest until
last week. 1t proved to be more
than usually serious case and from the
time of the operation grave fears
were entertained that recovery might
not ensue.
Mrs. Viles was born in New Port
land the daughter of Lemont and
Caroline( (Cragin) Spooner, September
%, 1847. She attended the schools of
her native town and received a
further education at the Maine State
Normal School in Pennington. Most
of her early life was passed in New
OAoidho uuu III bndU bOWn Der
marriage to Mr.. Viles occurred on May
21st. 1875. Mr.. and Mrs. Viles con-
tinued to reside in New Portland un-
til Mr.. Viles received the appoint
ment of Sheriff, seventeen years ago,
when they became residents of Show
hogan. One child was born to them,
Blaine S., now a citizen of Augusta.
The husband, Edward P. Viles, above
mentioned, survives, and one sister,
Miss Theresa Spooner. The lady Just
mentioned, and the deceased were
the only children in their family and
their association from childhood has
been very close and almost uninter-
rupted; their school days were passed
together including the attendance at
Pennington, and during most of the
years of her Skowhegan residence,
Miss Spooner had shared her sisters
home.
Mrs. Viles was a lady of most
gracious manner and charming per-
sonality. She and her husband were
life comrades in the trueet sense and
she never failed to manifest a SYM
pathetic interest in all his plans. The
business followed by Mr.. Viles and
the study OF forestry by her son at
Yale College drew her attention
especially to that subject and led to
her appointment as chairman of the
Forestry Committee of the Maine
Federation of Women's Clubs a
position which she filled with admir-
able tact and distinction. She was
also prominent in local club work,
serving in various official capacities,
among them as president of the
Skowhegan Woman's Club.
She will be mourned in all parts of
Maine by those who have formed her
acquaintance through her Club
associations. But most of all she will
be mourned and missed in Skowhegan
where her life has been passed and
her excellent qualities of mind and
heart have been best known. Her
home life was ideal and the attributes
she brought to the domestic life make
her passing out distressing calamity
in the narrower field of the family
circle, while i'll the community at
large, sincere grief and appreciation
of her qualities follow her to the
grave.
Realizing more fully than could be
understood, even by her own family,
the possibility that she might not re-
turn, she made known her wishes in
many things to be done in case the
operation should result fatally, this
alternative being accepted by her
with perfect calm and courage. 1t
was her request that floral tributes be
omitted and that a former personal
friend, the Rev. o. A. Hayden, Pastor
of the Universalist Church at Oakland
be the Clergyman to officiate at the
funeral. Her wishes in all respects
were carefully regarded, the funeral,
observance taking place at the home
this morning at eleven o'clock. The
South Cemetery is the place of inter
ment.