Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-04-29
COUNTY. NEWS.
MT. DESERT.
OBITUARY.

OBITUARY.
The death OF Mary b. Somes brings to
many hearts a measure OF sadness which
words can hardly express. Everyone liked
her, and all seemed to understand and APP
preciate her worth and the full measure Of
the loss to her family, friends, neighbors
and the whole community. Any sketch
OF her life which does not deal somewhat
with her environment and associates
would be incomplete, and 80 l shall write
OF her as saw her in relation to others in
the various activities OF her life.
When Mary was about twenty years old,
her mothers death threw the cares and
responsibilities of the home upon her and
her hslfsister, Julia A. Lord, and here /
want to say few words about this sister,
for she and Mary had certain prominent
qualities in common. Both had energy,
activity, self-reliance, willingness for SER
vice and self sacrifice.
With Julia it was home interest and
home service, for while she had a feeling
Of goodwill fer her neigh bors and friends,
she did not go among them, and did not
show any desire to participate in public
matters. But she was always GLAD to have
Mary take part in such things, and made
1t easy for her to go by her own willing
ness always to remain at home.
Mary did not shirk or neglect her home
duties. On the contrary, she was very
prompt and efficient as a housekeeper,
but she found time to give much attention
nd go
Her public spirit was almost unlimited.
She gave not simply her sympathy, but
also her time aud labor freely to all the
fraternities and benevolent societies in
our community, among which were
church, Sunday school, Christian Endea-
vor, library, church aid and Eastern Star.
But her service to these did not exhaust
the supply OF her generosity, for she had a
strong desire to be helpful to every indi-
vidual, every worthy movement and in
stitution which needed help.
Another thing to be mentioned in
Mary s home life was he helpfulness OF her
brothers, George A. and Richmond l..
Somes. Between her and these brothers
there was naturally the fulles, measure of
confidence and good fellows ship. They
never put hindrances or annoyanees in
her way, but on the contrary seemed
pleased with her generous feelings and
gladly gave her every freedom and OPP
poxtunity to exercise them
Many years ago there was a scarcity OF
teachers in our Sunday school, and at my
request Mary took a class. 1t was yery
soon evident that she was putting the
same enthusiasm into this work as into
other work that she undertook. She
meant to teach the class something, and
the very large stock OF bible knowledge
which she acquired in very short time
was always surprising to me. / think
this bible study and the resulting medita-
ton were great force in her life, for she
sought the highest ideals and made con-
tinual efforts to make her life consistent
with them.
She had unwayering faith in christianity
and the potency and helpfulness Of a
righteous and faithful life. The outcome
oil this faith was an intense loyalty to the
work OF the church, the Sunday school
and the Christian Endeavor society. Her
words were always helpful and inspiring.
and whether given as testimonies or as
words of encouragement or instruction to
the juniors, no one who listened to her
utterances could have any doubt ahont
their sincerity. or the source of her
inspiration.
OF course we know that things will 20
on here as usual. Individuals, societies
ana institutions will do their work here
in the future as in the past. But there is
universal feeling that an irrepara Ole loss
has come to US; that there will be no du-
plicate OF Mary b. Somes, and her going
out VIII leave vacancy which will never
be filed.
but WINE we grleve over the loss, we
know that Mary would saw: ,sTha hsst
way to honor me is to be practically and
self-sacrificingly loyal to the things he
iieved in and labored for"
April ~, iSl4. X. l.. GRINDLE,