FUNERAL RITES FOR PIONEER OF THIS COUNTY

SERVICES FOR MRS ELMIRA MCDONALD BRING LARGE GROUP OF FRIENDS TO MURRAY WEDNESDAY

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the Christian church in Murray for Mrs. Elmira Patterson McDonald, 73. Rev. C.L. Schubert of Omaha conducted the rites. He used the 23rd psalm as his text and paid high tribute to this faithful member of the church. She was the oldest person on the church roll but attended the services regularly, often walking to town from her modest home a mile and a quarter distant.

'Sometime We'll Understand' and 'Asleep In Jesus' were the numbers given by the quartet, Mrs RA Noell, Mrs Leonard Lutz, C.L. Schubert and Louis Sack. Pall bearers were Charles Read, Alvin Long, George Nickels, Will Minford, Ed Tutt, and Ora Davis. Interment was made at the Horning cemetery.

Elmira Ellen Patterson was born on Sept 17, 1857 near Rock Bluffs. She was the eldest daughter of Levinus and Emily Patterson, well-known pioneers to this county. She attended school at Rock Bluffs and was a student at the Naomi Institute of which her father's cousin, Joe Patterson, was the builder and teacher.

After finishing her school work, Elmira taught two terms in Butler county. She also taught west of Eight Mile Grove and in later years in the Morning School. She was married March 23, 1878 to Hiram McDonald and the couple went to Pennsylvania make their home in Washington County during the next four years. Two children, Grace and Oscar were born in Pennsylvania.

The family returned to Nebraska to live near Plattsmouth. Here another daughter, Florence, blessed the home. After living on several farms in this section, the family moved to the home east of Murray where Mrs McDonald has lived during the past forty-four years. Slightly more than a year after moving into this home, Mr McDonald died, in 1898.

Elmira faced the problem of supporting the family and lifting the mortgage from the home. She became a seamstress and carried herself and her children through a trying period to bring happy security to all. Another great loss was the death of her daughter, Florence, in 1907. Since the marriage of her other daughter and son, Mrs McDonald had lived alone contentedly at her beloved home. Her "good neighbors" often brought her into Plattsmouth to do her weekly trading.

She was active in the aid society and study club, being the oldest active member of both organizations. Her sweet contented disposition made her loved by all who know her. She leaves a daughter, Mrs W.L. Mellinger of Los Gatos, California; a son, Oscar McDonald of Manley; four grandchildren Maxon Mellinger of New York City, Margaret Mellinger of Los Gatos, Mrs Margarite Myer, and Robert McDonald; and two great grandchildren, Billy Myer and Leonora McDonald. Five sisters and a brother also survive, Mrs Etta Moore of Murray, Mrs Belle Moore of Grand Junction, Colorado, Mrs Lillie Jay of Alta Vista, Lysurgus Patterson of Narka, Kansas, Mrs Rannie Black of Kansas City, Missouri, Mr and Mrs Lottie Virts of Los Angeles, California.

Transcribed from THE PLATTSMOUTH JOURNAL MAY 27, 1937

Courtesy of Dan McDonald