Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

[Ethel Leola Ellis McCormick]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    July 31, 1958    [p. 1]

Mrs. Fred McCormick Rites Here Friday

Last rites for Mrs. Fred McCormick were held at the Bedford Methodist Church Friday afternoon, July 25, Rev. Anthony Blankers officiating.  Burial [was] in Bedford cemetery.

Ethel Leola Ellis, daughter of Dora B. and William Ellis, was born near York, Nebr., October 14, 1886, and died at St. Francis Hospital in Maryville, Mo., Wednesday July 23, 1958, at the age of 71 years, nine months, nine days.

In September 1906, she was married Fred L. [ee] McCormick.  To them three children were born, all of whom died in infancy.  The family made their home on a farm southeast of Bedford until January 1946, when they moved to their present home in Bedford.  One of the joys of their lives was the celebration of their Golden Wedding Anniversary about two years ago.

Mrs. McCormick, with her husband, became a member of the Bedford Methodist Church on January 17, 1926.  They had previously been affiliated with a small church near their farm home.  Her faith in God was evident throughout her life, but especially in the long weeks of patient suffering during her last illness.

Her survivors include her husband, Fred L. [ee] McCormick; four sisters, Mrs. Stella Wheeler, York, Nebr.; Mrs. Nellie Morain, York, Nebr.; Mrs. Hattie Hanson, Ventura, Calif.; Mrs. Myrtle Millholen, Loveland, Colo.  Also two brothers, John B. Ellis, Benedict, Nebr., Leslie Ellis, York, Nebr.; several nieces and nephews.

[Harry Beauchamp]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    January 24, 1957    [p. 1]

Harry Beauchamp Dies In Oklahoma

Harry Beauchamp, 68, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, died in a Tulsa, Okla., hospital Saturday, January 19, following surgery, according to word received by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Paul Simpson [Hilda Dowlin].  Funeral services were held in Tulsa Monday and the ashes will be brought to Bedford at a later date for interment.

Mr. Beauchamp is a son of the late Dr. and Mrs. J. [oseph] W. Beauchamp [Melissa Ewing] of Bedford, who preceded him in death.  He was also preceded by his wife, the former Miss Helen Dowlin, in 1949, and by an infant daughter.

He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Bertha Lauer of Tulsa, Okla., and Miss Lenore Beauchamp of Rogers, Arkansas.

[Nora C. Gilreath]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   January 24, 1957    [p. 1]

Mrs. Nora Gilreath Dies At Leon

Mrs. Nora C. Gilreath, 74, mother of P. W. Gilreath of Bedford, died in a Leon, Iowa hospital, January 14.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 16 at the Methodist church in Grand River, Iowa, conducted by Rev. Paul Harris.  Burial [was] in the Grand River cemetery.

Mrs. Gilreath is survived by two sons, C. L. Gilreath of McAllen, Texas, P. W. Gilreath of Bedford; one daughter, Mrs. Earl (Tressa) Cross, jr., of [La] Puente, Calif.; eleven grandchildren, one great grandchild.  One daughter preceded her mother in death.

[Minnie May Archer Hoops]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    January 24, 1957    [p. 1]

Mrs. Ernest Hoops Dies At Creston

Mrs. Ernest Hoops, 73, died in her home in Kent Sunday, January 20, after a 12-day illness.  She had lived in Kent since 1948 and previously in Villisca and Bedford.

Funeral services were held in Creston, Wednesday.  Burial [was] in Bedford cemetery.

Minnie May Archer was born near Red Oak, April 28, 1883, the daughter of William and Rosetta Byers Archer.  She was married at Villisca, August 24, 1900, to Ernest Hoops.  They lived at Villisca until 1920, when they moved to Bedford where they remained until moving to Kent in 1948.

Mrs. Hoops is survived by her husband; three daughters, Mrs. Hazel Wilson of Gravity, Mrs. Velma Peterson of Corning, Mrs. Opal King of Bedford; two sons, Dale Hoops of Lucas and Merle Hoops of Webster City; a sister, Mrs. Joe Peterson of Villisca; a brother, Vernon Archer of Diagonal.  One brother, Ray Archer, preceded her in death.

[Coppel, Martha Ann Parks Harris]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    January 24, 1957    [p. 1]

Mrs. Frank Coppel Of Gravity Dies

Mrs. Frank Coppel, 88, of Gravity, died at Municipal hospital, Clarinda, Sunday night, January 20.  She fell at her home Tuesday, January 15, breaking her hip and was taken to the hospital at that time.  Mr. Coppel survives.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church in Gravity Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Keith Marsh, pastor of the church.  Burial [was] in Gravity cemetery.

[Clyde C. Hays]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    February 23, 1956   

Clyde C. Hayes Dies

Clyde C. Hayes died Tuesday evening at a nursing home near Hatfield, Mo.  He had been bedfast for several weeks.  He is a brother of Mrs. Grace Balch, Joe and Ora Hayes.

Those from a distance attending the funeral services of C. [lyde] C. Hayes Friday were: Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Houchin of Gravity; Mr. and Mrs. Target of Mt. Ayr; Mrs. Paul Booher and son Von Gene of Sidney; Mrs. Jim Roudebush, Mrs. Karl Davidson and Mrs. Azelda Fluke, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Weaver, Orville Ford of Blockton; John Young, Clyde Parman and Loy Kemery of Sheridan.

Obituary - Clyde C. Hays

Clyde C., son of Andrew and Isabella [Kauble] Hays, was born June 14, 1878, in Taylor County, Iowa, and died at a nursing home near Hatfield, Mo., Feb. 15, 1956, at the age of 77 years, eight months, one day.

He was married to Mignon Idleman on March 20, 1907.  To them two children were born, Gene of Thermopolis, Wyo., and Mrs. Raymond Weaver of Blockton.  Mrs. Hays preceded her husband in death.

He leaves to mourn his departure the two children, two sisters and two brothers, Joe, Ora and Mrs. Grace Balch, of Athelstan, Mrs. Margaret Blake of San Jose, Calif., three grandsons, one great grandson.

Funeral services were conducted from the Community church in Athelstan Friday, Feb. 17 by Rev. Huntington, Christian minister of Blockton.  Burial [was] in Athelstan cemetery.

[Jacob Waller Martin]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 31, 1957    [p. 1]

J. W. Martin Rites Held Here Saturday

J. W. Martin, a resident of Bedford the past 50 years, died at St. Francis hospital, Maryville, Wednesday, October 23, at the age of 89 years, 10 months, one day.  He had been in failing health several years.

Funeral services were held at the Shum Funeral Home, Saturday afternoon, October 26, conducted by Rev. A. V. Hart of Hopkins, Mo.  Burial was in Fairview cemetery.

Jacob Waller Martin, son of James Edward and Ruth Stephens Martin, was born Dec. 22, 1867, at Exira, Iowa.

He was married Jan. 18, 1893, to Mary Ann Bradley Miller.  They bought a farm near Lexington, Mo., where they lived until February 1908, when they moved to Bedford.

To them were born four sons, Robert L. of Malone, Wash., Walter J. of Elma, Wash., William C. [arlos] of Bedford, Marion B. [radley], who preceded him in death in July 1945; four daughters, Mrs. Geraldine Hill of Gravity, Mrs. Luella Dunn and Mrs. Ethel [Shehan Stafford] Croy of Bedford, and Mary Carolyn, who died in infancy.

Surviving with the six children are 16 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.  His wife preceded him in death Oct. 16, 1946.

They moved to Bedford in 1908 and Mr. Martin was in the Auto Parts, Scrap Iron and Metal business here for more than 40 years, having retired from active business only five years ago.