WASSON, Martha Lavins Evans - Putnam

Mrs. Martha L. WASSON died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred DeCoudres, in North Liberty on Monday night. The body will be brought here this Friday morning. Funeral services will be from the ME Church at 2 this afternoon burial at Maple Ridge. Mrs. Wasson was a half sister of the late Mrs. Samuel McNUTT.

The funeral of Mrs. Martha Wasson was held at the ME Church on Firday afternoon in charge of Rev. AW Smith of Hillsboro, a former pastor, assisted by Rev. Isaac M. Hatton of North Liberty. The pall bearers were FC Evans and LE Devore of Crawfordsville; SF Evans and Henry Evans of Russellville, cousins of the deceased; and Fred & Earl McNutt, who were nephews. The flowers were carired by Mrs. Irene McNutt; Mrs. Fred McNutt; Mrs. Charles Campbell; Mrs. olive Lough; Mrs Dan Goodwin and Miss Pearl Gamble. A quartet, Mrs. Elby Emmert, Mrs. TS Banta, Corta Dooley and OG Swanay sang Jesus Lover of My Soul; Rock of Ages and Abide with Me. Burial at Maple Ridge.

Martha Lavina EVANS was born on a farm one mile west of Russellville, Indian aDec 27, 1847. She was the daughter of Elza and Elizabeth Thornton Evans. Her father died when she was 16 months old and she was reared in the home of her grandparents, James and Ruth Evans. She joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at age 11 during the pastorate of Rev. Bardin H. Bradbury, who was pastor at Russellville fomr 1857 to 1859. She was a member there until she moved to Waveland in 1892, when she moved her membership tot eh church in that community, where it has continued during the rest of her life. She attended the schools of her home community and Harmonia College at Russellville leaving at an early age to become the housekeeper for her grandfather whose wife had died. She remain ed in her grandfather's home until age 23 when on Feb 23, 1871 she was unite din marriage to McLeod L. WASSON who passed away June 9, 1898. To them were born four chldren, Olive, Fran, Leon and Nellie of whom the youngest, is the only one left. Mrs. Wasson was a life long Christian. She taught a Sunday School class before there were any lesson quarterlies to help in interpreting and teaching the lesson. she loved the church and knew the ministers who became her pastors and the presiding elders and had a wide acquaintance among the members of the Conference and other church workers. During her childhood and youth, and during her married life, her home was one where the ministers were always welcome and they were often guests there. To the time of her last illness she loved to talk of the ministers she used to know and dwell on her memories of them and their work. She was a great home lover, and her home was always the center of her interest. She magnified her office as a home maker and keeper and loved to be there more than anywhere else in the world. Modest in manner and refined in demeanor, she was never forward in her religious professions, yet the life she lived day by day was a constant revelation of her devotion to her home, her loved ones and her Lord. Her life was her own best eulogy, and her best testimony to the reality of her religion. Her sympathy went out to all who were in affliction or trouble, and her devotion to her home mad eher a helpful neighbor and friend to those about her. Sister Wasson had strong convictions and the courage to live up to them. Strong in loyalty, she was true to her high calling as a wife mother, friend, neighbor, citizen and christian. Endowed with a keen mind, she loved good books and literature, and took an interest to the last in public affairs. She was an interesting conversationalist, and loved to visit with her friends. During the last 15 years of her life she made her home with her daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Fred De Coudres, of North Liberty, Indiana. While she was not much in public gatherings, she took an interest i the people and life of the community, and her heart was in all good work long after she became unable to take part in its activities. The whole community felt her presence and she will be greatly missed from our midst. Mrs. Wasson was not rugged in body, yet she had a vital personality. Her inherent vitality and her strength of will and purpose helped her to survive her lack of rugged physique, until she had lived a long and useful life. Her health began to fail noticably for the past year or more, but her strength waned more rapidly during the past summer and as the autumn came on and winter approached it became evident that the final call was not far away. She passed away peacefully to her eternal reward at the home of her daughter at 12:30 a. m. on TUesday, Nov 21, 1933 at the age of 85 years 10 months and 24 days. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. DeCoudres and a half brother, WT Hanna, of Berkley California. Those present from a distance were; Dr. and Mrs. CW Dicks; Mrs. Minnie Overstreet; Misses Anna and Laura Vermillion and Mrs. OT Roberts of Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Evans; Mr. and Mrs. binford MIller and LE DeVore of Crawfordsville; Rev. and Mrs. AW SMith of Hillsboro; Clem DeCoudres; Mrs. LW Pommert; Mrs. FL Drennan; Mrs. JG Holderman and Rev. and Mrs. IM Hatton of North Liberty; Mrs. Eva Jacobs of South Bend; Mr. and Mrs. SF Evans and Miss Olive; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Evans; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Evans and son, Lee; Mr and Mrs. JE Byrd; Mrs. JT Byrd; Mrs. Paul Goff and Clay McGaughey of Russellville.