Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-08-15
Mrs. sarah McGrepor West.


The accompanying picture of Mrs.
Sarah McGregor West, who died at
her home in this city last week.
(August 81, was taken not great
while before her final sickness and
will recall to her friends the good
woman and good friend who has
gone, as she is remembered by them.
OF her death the Journal spoke at
the time, but in presenting her pic
ture cannot refrain from again al
luding to her fine character, splen-
did example and noble womanhood,
She was indeed "a mother ia Israeli
sturdy, brave woman, whose life
spanned the long and wonderful
period that lay between the prime
val wilderness and primitive life OF
Canada with its forest trails and OK
teams, and these modern days of
higher civilization with their autos
and airships.
Mrs. West came to Salem with her
husband in 1878, and here she lived
from that time until the curtain was
drawn and the light of this world
shut out. Besides her family of
nine children she found room in her
great motherly heart for still others
who grew up, looking up to and low
ing her as their own mother, for to
them she was as to her own child
ren; and besides these yet, the
neighborhood boys found in her 2
tender sympathetic friend, who
smoothed away childish troubles
and bound up bruises of both mind
and body. 1t was of these, who
knew and loved her that those were
chosen who bore all that was mortal
of their old friend on it's last jour
ney. and with tender hands low
cred her body into the bosom of the
earth to wait the judgment day.
Their tears bedewed the flowers that
covered her grave, and were a trih-
ute to her goodness, which, though
silent, was more eloquent than
words.
Mrs. West was a member of the
First Congregational church, having
affiliated with it soon after coming
to Salem, and was a constant at
tendant at the ''little old church"
that stood formerly on the site of
A. ,,uosor4 I,,,itJir,or opd che ruos n =
so one of the few remaining of the
old members of the Ladies' Aid so
ciety of the church. 1t was in this
church her funeral services were
held-simple unostentatious, heart
felt services, befitting her to whom
this last tribute of love was paid.
A prayer by Rev. Philip Bauer, -
the story of her life, eIoquen. in its
simple statement of facts by her old
pastor and friend, Rev P. S. Knight
her favorite song, "AuId Lang
Syne," beautifully rendered by Mrs.
who also sang Mrs. Vests
favorite hymn, Nearer My God TO
Thee" That was all.
All? No! There was the tribute
of flowers, fragrant and beautiful,
that covered the altar, banked the
chancel, pressed in riotous abund-
ance the casket and bier. and piled
in great masses of beauty in every
spot where they could find a resting
place Their fragrance was pray
er, their beauty a benediction; an
sermon in themselves, of
which she who lay so still and silent
beneath them, was both text and
The pail bearers were cher boys,
those who had found her a friend in
need and in deed in childhood's days
and whom she knew as johnny
Roberts, Benny Olcutt, johnny
Ennis Waite, "Baz" Wag-
Ter and Frank" Lowell and the ush,'
,rs were George Brown, Charles V. |
galloway and c. l.. Starr.
At the grave a prayer, a beautiful |