Mame F. Reilly O'Brien (1879-1959) - Find a Grave Memorial

Mame F. Reilly O'Brien

Birth

4 Aug 1879

Hokah, Houston County, Minnesota, USA

Death

9 Aug 1959 (aged 80)

Brainerd, Crow Wing County, Minnesota, USA

Burial

Evergreen Cemetery

Brainerd, Crow Wing County, Minnesota, USA

Plot

Block 5, Lot 123, NEC

Memorial ID

85243084 View Source

AKA Mary, Mayme

•See John F. Murphy.

                      A SAD ENDING.
                            _____

      Edward C. Gordon and Miss Mamie
         Reilly While Boating on Bemidji
               Lake Meet With an Acci-
                        dent Which
                            _____

      COSTS THE YOUNG MAN HIS LIFE.
                            _____

     Frightful Experience and Heroic Con-
              duct of the Young Lady.
                            _____

      Edward C. Gordon, who had made this city his home for some time and who was employed as brakeman on the B. & N. M. Ry., was drowned at Bemidji on Sunday afternoon last. Mr. Gordon and Paul Winters, son of O. O. Winters, of this city, in company with Misses Mamie and Delia Reilly, who were visiting Mrs. C. C. Lightfoot at the above place, started out for a boat ride. During the course of the afternoon Mr. Gordon and Miss Mamie Reilly, who occupied a boat together, started across the lake towards the point where the river flows out of the lake. When a mile or more from shore their boat was capsized by the waves, the wind having arisen and was blowing quite a gale. The water was very deep, but both succeeded in gaining a hold of the overturned boat. Mr. Gordon being an expert swimmer tried to right the boat, but found it was impossible to do so, yet they did not feel alarmed as the wind was drifting the boat toward shore. After finding that he could not right the boat Mr. Gordon placed his companion on one side of it, and getting on the other the two took hold of hands across the bottom of the overturned craft and drifted with it. After being in the water for over an hour and an half Miss Reilly noticed that her companion was losing consciousness, as his color changed and his head dropped forward on the boat. She tried to cheer him up and arouse him by saying a boat was coming for them, be he only motioned towards the shore without speaking, as if trying to encourage her, and then lost consciousness altogether. The position must have been a trying one, but the young lady bravely held up under the fearful ordeal and clung to the hands of her dead companion until the boat drifted onto a bar where she found she could touch bottom, the water being a little over three feet, and which was a half-mile from the shore. Here she endeavored to turn the boat over, but it was impossible. A small steam boat passed within sight, but she was unable to attract the attention of the occupants. Finally the attention of a farmer by the name of Newman was attracted to the place and he put out in a boat and took Miss Reilly to shore and a return trip was made for Gordon's body.
      Miss Reilly and her sister returned to Brainerd Monday morning and she has been confined to the house most of the time since owing to the severe shock and the exposure from being in the water for such a length of time. The young lady undoubtedly owes her life to her bravery and rare presence of mind during the unfortunate occurrence.
      The remains of Mr. Gordon were brought to this city and were embalmed at Losey & Dean's undertaking establishment, and shipped to Huntington, West Virginia, for burial. He was 26 years of age and an exceedingly bright young man, being a graduate of the law school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a general favorite among his circle of acquaintances. He came to Brainerd some months ago, and had made his home with the family of O. O. Winter. (Brainerd Dispatch, 09 June 1899, p. 1, c. 1)

1940 Federal Census, Ward 2, Brainerd, Brainerd City, Crow Wing, Minnesota, family #24:
O'Brien, Harry, age 58, b. 1882 Minnesota
O'Brien, Mary, age 60, b. 1880 Minnesota; wife

Mrs. O'Brien Dies; Funeral Set on Tuesday

      Mrs. Mame R. O'Brien, 215 North 6th street, died at her home Sunday morning. She was born in Hokah, Minn.
      Mrs. O'Brien was preceded in death by her husband Harry J. O'Brien. Survivors are two sisters, Mrs. Dell Bachelder and Mrs. Frank J. Lowey, both of Brainerd, and several nieces and nephews.
      Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Catholic church with Fr. Thomas F. Scott officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.
      Friends may call at the Doran funeral chapel this afternoon and evening. A St. Francis Guild and parish rosary will be said at 8:30 a.m. today.
      Mrs. O'Brien was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 10 August 1959, p. 2)