Mrs. Josie Blair Hawthorne Dies Following Stroke
Prominent Young Matron of Near Blair Had Been Ill for only ten days
Mrs. James Hawthorne, well-known and popular young matron of the Blair neighborhood, died at her home near the village last Saturday, May 16th, after an illness of ten days of paralysis. She was aged 37 years, 10 months and 20 days at the time of her death.
On May 7th Mrs. Hawthorne, apparently in the best of health, went with her husband and two younger children to the home of a neighbor to spend the evening. There she was suddenly stricken with paralysis. She was immediately taken to her home where she received the best of care and medical attention until her death, which came last Saturday morning.
As a demonstration of the high esteem in which she was held by neighbors and friends, the funeral services at the Presbyterian church at Blair at 1:30 o’clock Monday afternoon were largely attended, the funeral being one of the largest ever held in that vicinity. The services were conducted by Rev. Worrell, pastor of the Blair church, assisted by Rev. J. R. McIlroy of Sparta and Rev. Ernest Steele of near Percy. Interment was made at Union Cemetery.
Josie Blair Hawthorne, a daughter of Robert and Katheryn Blair, was born at St. Louis, June 25, 1887. She moved with her parents to their home two miles east of Blair when she was ten years of age. On November 25, 1908 she was married to James Hawthorne and immediately after the ceremony they went to housekeeping on the old Hawthorne homestead near Blair where they have since resided.
To them were born three children, Beulah Olivia, aged 15, now a student in the Sparta Township High School; David Emmet, age 10 and Elberta Lavern, aged 14 months, all of whom, with the bereaved father, survive.
Besides her husband and children she leaves to mourn her loss, her mother, Mrs. Katheryn Blair, a brother, Howard Blair, a sister, Mrs. A. I. Welshans, all of Murphysboro; a sister, Mrs. C. A. Irwin and a brother Robert T. Blair of Sparta and a sister, Mrs. Frank Hogue of Eden, Idaho. All with the exception of Mrs. Hogue were at her bedside during her last illness.
At the age of 17, Mrs. Hawthorne united with the Methodist church at Steeleville, but after her marriage she transferred her membership to Presbyterian Church at Blair. At the time of her death, Mrs. Hawthorne was president of the Ladies Aid and a member of the W.C. T.U. She was a faithful member and worker in the Blair Presbyterian Church, always taking an active part in its affairs. Being of a cheerful disposition and generous and friendly nature she had a wide circle of friends who, with the relatives, mourn her sudden departure.”
Source: The Sparta Newspaper, May 1925
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