WATTS, Mary Torr - Putnam

Mary K. Watts, daughter of Eva Jane and James Harvey Torr, was born in Madison Township, Putnam County Oct 4, 1968 on the farm from which her spirit took its flight and finished her earthly course Dec 10, 1927 at the age of 59 years, two months six days. She was a member of a large family. Her father and mother, her sisters, Mrs. William Scoube (?) and Mrs. Charles Allen and one brother Charles Torr having preceded her to the great beyond. She received her education in the grades and high school of Limedale, when it first flourished from its natural resources which consisted of the guarring of stone and the burning of lime and in the days when children were drilled in spelling and arithmetic by the famous old “matches” and were trained in penmanship by the old writing master.

She was married to Edmund Watts March 14, 1899 at Greencastle and with the exception of a short time following her marriage, during which period she resided in Clay City, she spent her entire life in the community in which she was born.  She was united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Old Mount Olive in the days of her youth when transportation was in the primitive fashion and will be remembered by many of the older friends riding to and from the sacred old house of worship grayly seated in the old fashioned side saddle on the primitive her favorite horse which was always provided by her devoted father for each of the members of his family.  With the passing of this old center of community worship she moved her membership to Landes Chapel serving there in the different organizations of the church, teaching a class in the primary department of the Sunday School, and attending as long as it was possible for her to do so and in her last days, because of the changes brought about by automobiles in the rural districts, she was preparing to affiliate with the Greencastle Methodist Episcopal Church. She still held her membership with the Mt. Olive Foreign and Home Missionary Society which did not pass ? with the passing of the church. She also was a member of the Country Reading Club. She had a passion for domestic affairs and her home was a model of cleanliness and artistic arrangement and was always open for community gatherings of all kinds.  She was hospitable in the truest sense and her friendly welcome and cheery attitude warmed the hearts of all who entered there. She was fun-loving and merry making, abounding in wit and humor and never allowed herself to grow old by word, deed or action.  Her life was a life of loyalty and service to those she loved and on the death of her father in 1902, she took up the “mantel” where he had laid it down and was a constant companion to her mother for a long period of 25 years and until, she exchanged her crown of 93 years for a crown of righteousness in the summer of 1925. So devoted were they to each other that their “Souls of each other, seemed such a part that they seemed to be fibre and core of each heart.” At the death of her own mother she took into her home her husband’s mother, giving her the same good care and the same devotion, making the same sacrifice that she did for her own mother, gladly and willingly. Her crowning glory was her devotion and service to these Mothers,” ministering to them in sickness and in health, amusing them as she would little children, serving them by day and lying with them on their beds by night, guarding and protecting them.  It might truthfully be said she laid down her life for others, fulfilling the commandment o the Master when he said “This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

She was charitable and her heart went out to the old and afflicted, never passing the unfortunate one, without giving generous alms.  She fell many times on her own __ of affliction, only to rise again, strengthened and more determined to carry on constantly remember folks in all walks of life with tokens of love, dainties prepared by her own hands and flowers for all occasions. She was a loving and devoted wife and leaves to hallow her member her husband, her three brothers: William S, Franklin J and J. Walter Torr and a large relationship together with a large circle of friends. She never experienced the joys of motherhood but mothered every little child, regardless of race or color, that came within the paths of her daily walks of life thus again portraying the words of the Master when he said, “As ye did it unto the least of these, ye did it also unto me.”  And while on her bed of affliction in the hospital, she missed the children asking that they might be brought to her, requesting that the little ones passing her door on other missions, might be brought in that she might see them.  Her book of life is closed to over there and may we not say the children of the poet – Wasn’t it pleasant, O brother mine In those good old days of sunshine.  When we went visiting you and Out to good Aunt Mary’s And Oh! My brother this is to be This is to tell you she wants us to welcome us.  (in crook of page so may not be correct but close).  Aunt Mary fell asleep this night whispering – Tell the boys to come Out to old Aunt Mary’s!”

Source: Greencastle Herald 12 Dec 1927 p 1