The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-10-27
keokuk Woman Who Has Boon Prom.
inent In Social and civic Life Of
Community Passed Away
This Morning.
WAS ILL FOR MONTHS
Until Compelled by Poor Health to
Rest, She Was Active In Benevo-
lent Union and q. A. r.
Circles.

In the passing Of Mrs. David Alex
ander Collier which occurred shortly
before o'clock this morning, KeokuK
has lost one of her leading citizens
a woman whose personality was
stamped on every phase of the life of
the city. She was woman Of strong
character born leader. She was a
woman of broad charity and friend
whose loyalty in friendship Is seldom
equaled. She had host of friends in
every walk in life and was always gra-
cious and happy in her relationship
with every one.
She was most generous not only in
her fbenevolences to the less fortu-
nately favored. but with her friends
she was happiest when sharing with
she possessed.
She loved society and was for many
years a social leader.
Mrs. Collier was honorary president
OF the Benevolent Union, having re-
signed the active work of president
a few months ago because Of i'll
health For more than twenty years
she was an officer Of the Benevolent
Union. her mother, Mrs. George B.
Smythe having been charter mem
! Der. Mrs. Collier had leading part
in establishing the endowment which
gave by a bequest of the late Charles
| P. Birge, the Benevolent Union home
to this city.
Charter Member D. A. r.
| She was a charter member of the
Keokuk chapter, Daughters OF the
! American Revolution and was vice
regent of the state society. She was
chairman of the committee which
raised the fund to complete the monu-
ment in Rand park by placing on 1t
the bronze statue Of Chief Keokuk.
She was chairman of the committee
which placed the Maine memorial
tablet and she gave to the city the
second Roosevelt tree.
For ten years she was director OF
the Country club and was one Of its
founders. She was charter member
of the Civic league and member OF
its directorate since it's organization.
She was a director of the Visiting
Nurse association. She was charter
member of the Travel club; men,
her of the Wednesday Reading club;
Of the Fortnightly club, and OF the
Woman's Whist league. She was
president of the first Audubon society
of the state of Iowa.
She was member Of the First
Westminster Presbyterian church
from her girlhood days, and was al
ways in her pew on Sunday morning
until her health failed in the last few
months. She generously supported
the church and it's missionary activi-
ties. She was a member of the Wom-
ans Missionary society and OF the
Chapel Fund society OF the church.
Mrs. Collier was most devoted 10
her home and to her husband. Not
withstanding the claims of her outside
interests her first devotion was CIV
en- to her husband and her home. In
this relationship her life was ideal.
Was Born in keokuk.
Susie Chambers Smythe Collier was
born in Keokuk October 26, 1862.
daughter of the late George B. Smythe !
and Martha NJ Chambers Smythe !
The Smythe family is one of the old
est and most prominent families OF !
Keokuk and much of the force OF |
character and her ability to accomp-
lish what she wished to do, came by |
inheritance from a fine ancestry.
She was married January IA. 1885 ,
to David Alexander Collier who sur
wives her. His devotion to Mrs. Col I
lier made the years OF her married I
life most happy and his devotion IN
her illness made even those days
bright. She is survived by three SIS
ters and one brother: Miss Sallie
smythe and Mrs. John D. Rubidge OF
Keokuk; Mrs. Samuel Edwards OF
and George B. smythe Jr.,
Of Salt Lake City, Utah. Mrs. John
son Haywood Of New York CITY. Is Ter
niece and Samuel Edwards Jr., of
Davenport, is a nephew.
Funeral services to which friends
ire invited, will be held at the family
home, 326 Fulton street, Tuesday
afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, and will be
conducted by the Rev. Ezra Butler
Newcomb of the First Westminster
church. Private burial
will be in Oakland cemetery.
Friends are asked to omit flowers.