Heaton - Eugene - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Eugene Heaton, aged about 20 years, died yesterday at the home of his father, James Heaton, of Lincoln, Neb., of brain fever. Mrs. Wm N. Lee, his aunt, left this afternoon to attend the funeral. Eugene was raised in this city and his many friends here will be pained to learn of the end of a promising and bright life.

The Lincoln State Journal gives the following account of the funeral of Eugene Heaton:

A large concourse of people assembled yesterday to pay tribute to the memory of Eugene Heaton, who died Wednesday last after a brief illness. The last sad rites were held at the family residence under the direction of the undertakers in charge of Fred Thomas.

The body lay in a massive copper lined casket encased in cedar with a heavy plate full length glass, the whole being covered by rich steel gray silk plush. The trimmings were cream colored satin and the extension handles of oxidized silver. Upon the raised top of the casket was a silver plate bearing the name “Gene” together with the date of birth and death. The casket was most beautiful and of a style which the deceased had expressed a desire to be interred in. It rested upon the pedestals half buried in floral offerings and a white rug beneath was literally covered with blossoms and flowers. Suspended above the casket were two white doves.

The floral offerings were from many parts of the State and were so profuse that they occupied a part of the room. The most beautiful offering was a scroll several feet in length, made of white roses and carnations resting on a bed of flowers. This beautiful tribute to the memory of the young man was sent from St. Joseph, Mo., by his friends with whom the deceased had been associated in business.

Among the floral offerings from a distance was a pillow bearing the word “Rest” sent by undertakers of Omaha, a beautiful anchor from Hastings and baskets of flowers from Indiana. There were a number of panels made of callalillies and ferns, and harps and other beautiful designs, all made the most exquisite flowers imaginable. Charity Lodge No. 2, Daughters of Rebekah, remembered the dead by a huge basket of fragrant flowers. Offerings by friends of the family in the city were numerous. Members of the York Club, of which the deceased was a member, showed their affection by a large pillow of roses. A pillow of roses bearing the words “Our Boy” and a crescent and star made of flowers were very conspicuous.

After vocal music feeling tendered by the Easterday brothers, Rev. F. S. Stein, of the St. Paul M. E. Church, delivered the funeral sermon, portraying truthfully the many noble attributes of the dead and dulogizing his manly, upright life, with which he himself was personally acquainted. Rev. O. A. Williams of the First Baptist Church offered prayer and the remains were viewed by friends of the family. After the singing the remains were placed in a hearse, with Fred Hallet, Ken Binford, George Covert, Fred Kimball, Guy Hale, and John Graham as pall bearers, preceeding the sorrowing family, the cortege moved toward Wyaka Cemetery, where the remains were placed in a vault to await interment.

It was one of the largest funerals ever held in the city.

The deceased, Eugene Heaton, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. James Heaton, and had resided in this city since early childhood. For years he has followed the profession of funeral director and last year took a course in embalming in Buffalo, N. Y., where he was at the head of a large establishment. At the time of his death, he was less than twenty one years old. He was universally admired and his large circle of friends deeply feels his loss. The bereaved family has the heartfelt sympathy of all.