Tritle, Mary Elizabeth

TRITLE, LOGAN, NORTHY, BRIDSON, HEDGES, BENSON, MCFARLAND, WILMARTH, VAN CLEVE, SNOW

Posted By: Gayle P. Snow (email)
Date: 5/2/2023 at 21:16:57

Newspaper clipping; unknown source

May Elizabeth Logan was born to John and Catherine Logan at Waterloo, Iowa, May 17, 1876, And passed to he Eternal Reward on February 9, 1949, at the age of 72 years, 9 months and 23 days.

She had been in failing health for a number of years and death came as a sweet release. Her childhood was spent near Waterloo, Ia., until 1895 when she moved with her parents to Harris, Iowa.

May Logan joined the United Brethren church January 17, 1891, she was baptized by immersion in Miller Creek near Eagle Center, Jun 28, 1891.

She spent the years 1893-1898 teaching in the rural schools of Blackhawk and Osceola Counties.

On February 23, 1898, she was united in marriage to Victor Reid Tritle at Harris, Iowa and came to Spirit Lake to build a home on March 3, 1898. To this union five children were born all of whom survive. They are Victor L., Ralph M., and Maude, now Mrs. Sid Northey, all of Spirit Lake; Florence, Mrs. Emmett Bridson, of Terril; Thora, Mrs. Harold Hedges, of Ocheydan, Iowa.

Mrs. Tritle joined the Methodist curch of Spirit Lake by letter from Harris in 1898.

On June 4, 1929, she moved with her husband and daughter, Maude, to their home in Spirit Lake.

All through the years she found great joy in serving in her church and other community organizations. While still in her teens and living in Eagle Center, she served both as Sunday school teacher and secretary of the Sunday school.

After her marriage she has served here as Sunday school teacher of the high school girls and also of the Daughters of Ruth, as Superintendent of the Cradle Roll, President of the Ladies Aid, Devotional Leader of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society, and President of the W.C.T.U. She was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary, of which she served as Chaplain and also secretary. She was also active in the Farm Bureau Organization. At the time of her passing she was still serving as card chairman of the W.S.C.S.

Preceding her in death were her father and mother and two sisters. She leaves to mourn her loving husband, five children, 19 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, besides three sisters, Mrs. Clarence Benson and Mrs. Lee McFarland, both of Harris and Mrs. Howard Wilmarth of Ocheydan, two brothers, S. J. Logan of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and George Logan of Pochantoes, also several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Mrs. Tritle loved everybody and all, young and old alike, loved her. She loved to collect poetry and wrote several original poems herself.

She was an inspiration to many who will not soon forget her cheery smile, her encouraging word, and her unfailing kindness. All children, especially her own grandchildren and great grandchildren were a great joy to her. She was always thinking of little things she could do for them. Her life was a shining example and the memory of her is sweet and lovely.

The eternal steadiness of such a life of love and service is certainly to be found in the faith that such a person may have. It is a faith in the purpose of life with God, a faith in the good and beauty of human personality, and a faith that God in his goodness will preserve and keep the results of the energies and sufferings of life for His great Eternity.

Funeral services were held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church, Rev. Baker conducting the service with Rev. J. E. Feller of Cherokee bringing the message. Nylene Smith and Dorothy Doudna sang "Lead Kindly Light" and "Nearer My God to Thee" with Mrs. R. F. Doudna at the organ.

She was laid to rest in Lakeview Cemetery. Five grandsons and the husband of one granddaughter acted as pallbearers, Erwin Bridson, Keith Bridson, Duane Tritle, Lawrence Hedges, Wayne Northey, and James McDonald.

Besides the immediate family out-of-town relatives attending the services were Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Logan and Ruth Benson of Minneapolis, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Geo. H. Logan of Pohalontas, Howard Wilmarth of Ocheydan, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Benson, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Benson and two sons, Mr. and Mrs. Lee McFarland, all of Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Van Cleve and daughter of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Webb of Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. Jean Snow and four sons of Clear Lake, Iowa.

A grandson, Garth Tritle of Spirit Lake, who is attending school in California was unable to be here for the services