Shirk - Bessie Woods
Source: Iva Lewis Obituary Scrapbook
There was much genuine sorrow in our city when the sad message was received that Mrs. Elvessa Booe Shirk had died at the Palmer hospital in Frankfort at 6 o’clock Wednesday evening. The message was no surprise as her relatives and friends had bowed to the inevitable and knew that it was impossible for her to survive, they patiently awaited the end. But when the end came it was the setting of the sun of one of our city’s most beloved women, a woman of high character, a woman who had been identified with all that is good for the betterment of our city, a woman possessing the true friendship of everyone, a good Christian who had lived so that she was prepared to answer her Master’s call when it was His wish to command that her spirit come unto its home eternal. It will be remembered that her husband, Arthur M. Booe, passed to the Great Beyond eighteen months ago Thursday. His death was truly mourned by all, as a better man never lived. Mrs. Booe occupied the old homestead with her son-in-law and daughter, Rev. McGaughey and wife, and they continued the drug business of her husband. A short time ago she was again married to David Shirk, once of the best known residents of the south part of the county. About the time of their marriage or, in fact, prior to it, Mrs. Shirk began ailing and slowly continued to grow worse until her relatives decided to consult a specialist. She was taken to Indianapolis, Martinsville, and in fact several places to medical men of reputation and while they made diagnosis of her illness they seemed baffled in being able to check its ad-…….. could do was done for her, no pains nor expense was spared. About five weeks ago she was taken to Dr. Palmer, an excellent specialist of Frankfort and placed under his care. It was not long until he saw that nothing could be done for her, and told her dear ones that death was but a question of time. Dr. Palmer, as well as her near relatives were by a her side most of the time and did all that could be to lessen her sufferings, which were too terrible for description, and when death came it was but a sweet relief for the beloved woman had gone to that home where sufferings are unknown. It was the wish of the family that after death a post-mortem be held to satisfy their desire as to what had caused so much suffering and baffled medical skill and also to aid the science for the good of mankind, and it was held by Dr. Palmer and assistants. They found the entire, solar plexus system in a cancerous condition. The liver, arteries around the heart, spleen and in fact all the vital parts were terribly afflicted with that most dreaded disease, they also found a countless number of gall stones in the bladder and Dr. Palmer said that mortal mind could not conceive the sufferings the poor woman had borne, even though she had smiled with sunshine on the world, he said that no doubt she had suffered for fully twenty years and that it had been so excessive that it had completely wrecked the nervous system, whose close sympathy to the brain had caused her dementia condition which was plainly shown not to be hereditary but wholly from the effects of her sufferings. After her death the body was taken to the Goodwin undertaking establishment in Frankfort and prepared for shipment. They arrived here with the remains at noon Thursday and they were taken to the dear old home she loved so well and there will lay in state until 10:30 o’clock Saturday morning when the funeral will be held. Services will be conducted in the Christian church by Elder O. E. Kelley, after which the order of Eastern Star, of which she is a past matron, will take charge and with their beautiful ceremony will convey the remains to the Rockfield cemetery and there they will be laid to rest.
Elvessa Booe Shirk was born in Covington, July 10, 1851. She was married to Arthur M. Booe Nov. 12, 1872, to this union two daughters were born, Mrs. Birdie McGaughey, wife of Rev. McGaughey, and Patty Coram, who died in childhood, also an adopted daughter Mrs. Guy…….. There area two brothers living, Daniel and Charles Glascock, of Pueblo, Colo., and one sister, Mrs. Laodice Jones, of Carrolion, Mo. On Nov. 30, 1908 she was married to David Shirk, who with the near relatives and friends by the legion are bowed in a grief that beggars description. It is no task to write of they with whom your association has only been formal but when the messenger of death calls they who have been your true friend for a score of years, they you know to be pure at heart; at peace with their Master and a friend whose friendship is priceless, it is then that you cannot find words to express a testimonial that is deserving and in attempting to speak of Elvessa Booe Shirk as we realize that she has fought her fight and finished her course. Ours with every heart among they of her many friends is crushed and we can only say farewell. It is the will of the Master, Thy will be done.
The following correct report of the autopsy on Mrs. Shirk is by request kindly furnished us: The autopsy that was held on the body of, Mrs. Elvessa Booe Shirk who died at the hospital in Frankfort, Ind., on Jan. 27, 1909, revealed the fact that she had been suffering with a cancer which had its origin in the pancreas and had attached itself to the spinal column, surrounding the aorta hepatic vein, the two renal arteries and involved all the structures just behind the stomach, including the liver, diaphragm and solar plexus of ņerves, the last. named giving rise to the manifestations of those peculiar nervous symptoms and not being dementia or hysteria. – jlr