The Western Star, December 30, 1938.
In the sudden death last Friday, December 23, of William E. Beeley of this county, our community lost one of its substantial and dependable citizens. Mr. Beeley had been in his usual health up to the day of his death, when he was suddenly stricken with a heart attack and passed away at about 1:30 p.m. At the time of his death he was 69 years, 6 months and 4 days of age.Mr. Beeley came to Comanche county in 1904 and had lived here continuously since that time. He was born on June 19, 1869, the youngest of seven children of Joseph and Matilda Beeley, near Arenzville, Ill. His mother passed away when he was but eight years of age. At the age of 17, William was converted to the Christian religion and joined the Methodist church of which he continued to be a member to the time of his death.
On March 11, 1896 he was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Webster in Concord, Ill. To this union was born one son, J. Lynn Beeley. Mr. Beeley was a kind husband and father, always thinking more of others than himself. He stood for all the better things in this community and in the entire county.
Mr. Beeley is survived by his wife and his son, J. Lynn, and two grandchildren, Ellen Maxine and Ross Beeley; one brother, J. A. Beeley, of Beandenville, Ill., one half-sister, Hattie Palier, of Arenzville, Ill., one half-brother, C. E. Beeley, of Chaplin, Ill., and many other relatives and a host of friends.
On Monday, December 20, short services were held at the home. From there the body was taken to the Coldwater Methodist church, where services were held at 2:30 o'clock, the pastor, Rev. J. W. Carrier being in charge. The singers were Leroy and Raymond Cline, who sang, "When Its Good Night Here, It's Good Morning Up There," and Mrs. Martha Zerby, Mrs. Ferrel Guizlo and Miss Mildred Guizlo, who sang "Asleep in Jesus." Interment was made in the Coldwater cemetery. Rev. Carrier brought a very timely and appropriate message to the living, and words of kindly sympathy and encouragement to the relatives.
The pall bearers were E. E. Pounds, Ed Weimert, Harrison Cook, Frank Dodson, Walter Ferrin and Walter Stewart.
'Tis hard to break the tender cord
When love has bound the heart;
'Tis hard, so hard, to speak the words
"We must forever part."Dearest love done we must lay thee
In the peaceful grave's embrace,
Buy thy memory will be cherished
Till we see thy heavenly face.Card of Thanks
We take this means of thanking our many willing friends and neighbors who so graciously assisted us following the death of our beloved husband and father, William Beeley. Mrs. Wm. Beeley and Lynn Beeley and family.
The Western Star, June 25, 1970. Mary Beeley Dies in Pratt
Mrs. Mary E. Beeley, 96, died Tuesday evening, June 23, 1970 at the Pratt County Hospital in Pratt, Kansas. She was born December 9, 1874, in Cass County, Illinois, near Arenzville, Illinois. Funeral services will be held at the Assembly of God in Coldwater on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Forrest Frazier in charge of the services. Interment in Crown Hill Cemetery.
The Western Star, July 2, 1970. Mrs. Mary Beeley Dies at the Age of 95
Funeral services were held for Mrs. Mary Ellen Beeley on Friday, June 27, 1970, at 10:30 a.m. in the Assembly of God in Coldwater, Kans. Rev. Forest Frazier and Mrs. Virginia Carthrae were in charge of the services. Raymond and Lee Roy Cline sang "Tell Mother I'll Be There," and "When The Roll is Called Up Yonder," accompanied by Mrs. Mary Anna Purcell, organist.
Pallbearers were Harold Veatch, Jim Current, Ted Emerson, Tim Emerson, Newell Beeley, and Woodrow Beeley. Honorary pallbearers were Ralph Beeley, Gloyd Hadley, Clarence Bardot, Roy Richardson, Walter Ferrin, Jay Pounds, George Deewall, and Renous Allen.
Interment was in Crown Hill Cemetery, Coldwater, Kans.
Obituary. Mary Ellen Beeley, daughter of Joseph Benjamin and Clementine Brim Webster, was born in Cass county, near Arenzville, Ill., on December 9, 1874 and departed this life in Pratt, Kans., on June 23, 1970 at the age of 95 years, 5 months and 23 days.
When Mary Ellen was six years old, she moved with her parents in a covered wagon to Clayton, Ill., where she grew to young womanhood. She graduated from the Meredosia, Illnois high school and became a teacher in a county school.
On March 11, 1896 she was united in marriage with William Elsworth Booth of Arenzville, Ill. To this union one son, J. Lynn Beeley, was born.
When Lynn was seven years old, they came by train to Comanche county, Kans., where they worked on the Jim Hudson ranch, Mrs. Hudson being Mr. Beeley's sister. Mr. Beeley often said that all they brought to Kansas was a piano box full of their belongings, a kid and five hundred dollars. After one year they purchased and lived on their own farm south of Coldwater until 1938 then Mr. Beeley passed away. Mrs. Beeley then moved her original two room house from the farm to Coldwater where she resided until 1962 when she went to Pratt, Kans., to live with her granddaughter, Maxine Beeley Emerson.
Her only child, J. Lynn, died on October 3, 1946. Her only grandson, Ross P. Beeley, passed away April 30, 1964.
As a child Mary Ellen was a member of a family of 12, the only surviving member being Lydia Webster Gray of Kansas City, Mo.
In addition to her granddaughter, Maxine, she is survived by her great grandchildren, Lt. J. G. Ronald Lynn Beeley, who is serving his country in Vietnam; Tim Kent Emerson, Houston, Texas; Ellen Frances Beeley Bundy, Drexel, Mo., and Ted Ross Emerson of Pratt, Kans.
She is also survived by a great great grandchild, Deborah Colette Emerson of Houston, Texas; her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Frances Beeley Lewis, and granddaughter-in-law, Mrs. Betty Beeley Brass, both of Coldwater, a grandson-in-law, Calvin J. Emerson, of Pratt. Nieces, nephews, and many friends regret her passing.
Since early womanhood Mrs. Beeley has identified herself with the church and at the time of her death was a faithful member of the Assembly of God church of Coldwater, Kans.
ATTEND FUNERAL Those from out of town attending the funeral of Mrs. Mary Ellen Beeley on June 26 were Mr. and Mrs. Rex Smith, Mrs. Bill New, Mrs. Millie Leonard, Mrs. Cecil Stecker and Mrs. Phyllis Shoults, all of Pratt; Mrs. Alma Guyer of Ashland; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Veatch, Mrs. Homer Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Current and family of Wichita; Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Emerson of Kingman; Mr. and Mrs. Troy Wharton of Dalhart, Texas; Mrs. Marie Merrihew of Hardtner; Mr. and Mrs. Tim Emerson of Houston, Texas.
Also see:
J. Lynn Beeley, son of William E. Beeley.
Ross Portland Beeley, grandson of William E. Beeley.
Beeley Surname Message Board at RootsWeb
Beeley Surname Message Board at GenForum
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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