George Raymond Bliss

BLISS, SPERLING

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 9/26/2017 at 20:38:42

The news of the sad death of George Raymond Bliss came as a shock to his family and his many friends in Adams County when it was flashed over the wife from Gulf Port, Mississippi, last Friday. The message only sighted that he was drowned but since the arrival of his family, the story in all its pathetic details has been revealed.
The family with other friends were enjoying a picnic outing near a small stream near their home. Mr. Bliss had taken his three little girls in swimming, diving them rides on his back across the stream. On the last ride and while near an old raft in midstream, he seamed to swim frantically holding on to a rope which was attached to the raft and which stretched to just above the water. His strength seemed to give out and he sank. The daughter, Florence hung onto the rope until she was able to clim upon the raft.
Friends soon rushed to his recuse and a pulmotor was used but it was too late. It is believed that a hemorrhage or heart trouble was the cause of the tragedy as blood showed in the water drawn from his lungs.
The body arrived in Corning, Tuesday noon accompanied by his wife and three little girls and also his brother Howard and wife who live in the south. Services were held Wednesday afternoon at the M. E. Church at 2:00 p.m., Rev. E. S. Menocher preaching the funeral services. The body was buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery. All of the brothers and sisters were here when the body arrived for the service Wednesday.
George Raymond Bliss was born at Geneseo, Illinois, February 3, 1882 and died at Saucier, Mississippi June 3, 1927, aged 45 years and four months. When 4 years of age he came with his parents to Stuart, Iowa. Two years later the family moved to Shenandoah and when he was 13 the family moved to the farm in Adams County, three miles south of Corning.
Mr. Bliss graduated from Corning Academy receiving a gold medal for excellence in scholarship in English. He also completed a course at Ames with class honors in 1908. He was married to Carrie Helen Sperling on January 29, 1910 in Corning, Iowa. He worked for the extension department at Davenport for 8 years. He served in the like capacity at Mt. Vernon for five years. Later he took over the management of 1,00 acres of land near Gulf Port, Mississippi, where he met his untimely death.
Rev. Bliss who was so well and lovingly known here and who passed away in the very prime of life was one of the world’s willing workers, a dutiful and obedient son and loving husband and father. He leaves to keep i loving remembrance, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. George E. Bliss; his loving and devoted wife, Carrie Sperling Bliss, and his three daughters, Laura, 12, Florence 10, and Marcia, 7. His only son George Francis died when only 2 years old. He also leaves four brothers, Howard Bertrand of Memphis, Tennessee, Horace Taylor of Rudyard, Montana; Fred Gerold of Buffalo Center, Iowa, and Paul Dayton of Pueblo, Colorado; an only sister, Mrs. Edith Duesenberry of Boseman, Montana; two uncles, Berstrand L. Bliss of Rice Lake, Wisconsin and Eugene Wilson of Exira, Iowa; his grandmother Fast who is 91 years old and a host of dear friends in Iowa and Illinois.
Faithfully as he performed the duties of his profession yet over and above all else, he placed his Christian activities as the most vital thing in life. So honest, son unselfish, performing loving deeds so bravely, so kindly, so well that everyone who knew him d=felt his gentle power and loved his dearly.
The whole community sorrows because of the departed friend who will never come again; a loyal neighbor whose cheerful greeting will be missed, whose wholesome influence in the community will always be felt.
Adams County Free Press, Friday, June 10, 1927, page 5