An almost inexpressible sense of sadness overwhelmed the people of the Coldwater and Wilmore communities late Tuesday evening when the news was received from Wichita that Miss Beatrice Pepperd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Pepperd, had died at 8:30 o'clock that evening in the St. Francis hospital in that city. A couple of weeks ago Miss Beatrice was seized with an attack of appendicitis, and on last Sunday her mother took her to the hospital where an operation was performed on Monday morning. The operation revealed a complicated condition, and it soon became apparent that there was faint hope of her recovery. On Tuesday morning, in response to a phone message, Mr. Pepperd and his son, Maurice, started in their car for Wichita, arriving there about three hours before dark came to the sufferer. The body was brought to this city on Wednesday and burial was made on Thursday afternoon in Crown Hill cemetery, following services which were conducted from the Methodist Episcopal church at 3 p.m., the pastor, Rev. W. M. Austin, being in charge. He preached from the text, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth," Eccl. 12:1. The large crowd present, the beautiful floral offerings and the many other silent but impressive evidences of love and esteem indicated, to some extent, how much the people were touched by the passing away of one who was so vitally a part of the young life of the community.Beatrice Alice Pepperd was born in Logan-tp., this county, on May 21, 1907, was, therefore, at the time of her death, 14 years, 1 month and 14 days old. Having lived in this county all her life, she was well known, thru out the eastern half of the county. She was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pepperd, and hence the blow to them is all the heavier. She had always been a dutiful and lovable child and was a favorite with all who knew her. Her beautiful character and her happy and kindly disposition had made friends of all her associates, in school, Sunday school, among the Camp Fire Girls and at the social gathering of the young people. Her passing away has brought to many a heart, a feeling of sadness which always follows the loss of a dear young friend. In the home there will be a vacant chair, and hearts are now heavy with sorrow, such as only those who have passed thru a similar experience can understand. But the all sustaining hand of God is underneath those who mourn, and that comfort and that hope which He alone can give is theirs. Beatrice had just begun to enter upon young womanhood and a life full of promise, and to be taken away at such a time seems sad indeed, but God's purpose and plans are beyond our understanding. It is for us to bow to His will with the assurance, however, that He "doeth all things well." Those who now mourn because of the absence of a loved one will find their greatest comfort in the never failing promises of Him who declared, "My grace is sufficient for thee." In their deep affliction the members of the bereaved family are sustained by the heart-felt sympathy of the entire community.
Deceased is survived by her parents and by five brothers - Vernon, Merrill, Clair, Maurice and Jay, all of this county. She moved with her parents from the New Eden neighborhood to this city about two years ago and during the last two terms was a pupil in the Coldwater schools. She was an active member of the M. E. Sunday school and Junior League and a regular attendant at the church services.
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