TAMPICO TORNADO

DEATHS

May 13, 1915

SAD DEATH OF ELSIE HAYES

Mrs. Elsie HAYES Dies At Hospital At Dixon Following An Operation For Large Tumor.

Tampico people were shocked when the sad message came from Dixon last week Thursday evening telling of the death of Mrs. Elsie HAYES following a severe surgical operation at the hospital there and after a most determined, plunky, heroic fight for her life had been made by surgeons, nurses and relatives. She had been taken to the hospital two weeks previous in preparation for an operation for an enlarged tumor which had been troubling her for some time and would have caused death in a few weeks had not some measures been taken for immediate relief. The operation was performed about noon by Dr. MURPHY of Dixon and Dr. HORN of this place. The large tumor was successfully removed and also a portion of the appendix which was affected. The poison from the tumor had so affected here entire system that she never rallied after the operation and gradually sank until the end came about 7 o'clock in the evening. Blood taken from her husband's veins, soda and saline solution all injected into her veins with oxygen kept her feeble spark alive for over four hours, but the vitality being so low the spark of life finally went out, science, surgeons, nurses and relatives having been beaten by the great destroyer, death. All of the relatives except a young daughter were at the hospital during the trying hours and when the end came after the plunky fight the mother, father and sisters collapsed and the parents with the husband have been prostrated with grief ever since. The parents were called home from California where they were visiting and enjoying themselves at the exposition - a sad ending to their trip.

The remains were taken from Dixon to WHEELOCK's undertaking rooms at Rock Falls and then brought to Tampico Friday afternoon to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James STURM, where they lay until Sunday when funeral services were held conducted by Rev. C.D. McCAMMON pastor of the Tampico M.E. church of which she was a member and regular attendant. Mr. McCAMMON read the Twenty-third psalm and spoke very touchingly of the lessons taught by the life of the deceased. W.J. EYLES, pastor of the Baptist chruch offered prayer and there were two very appropriate songs by Mesdames BEAN and BREWER, Some Time We'll Understand, and Beautiful Isle of Somewhere. The house was completely filled with relatives and the many friends of the deceased and many more were assembled on the porch and lawn. There was a profusion of floral tributes among them being remembrances from the Eastern Star, Harmony club, Room N. 6 Tampico schools and others. The pall bearers were: James WILSON, J.C. SHEARER, J.M. OLSSON, J.E. STROUSE, Jerry KELLY and Arlie LOVE. The remains accompanied by a cortege of fourteen autoloads of relatives and friends, were taken in the auto hearse to Bradford the old home of the deceased where they were laid to rest in the Bradford cemetery. There was a large number of old Bradford friends gathered at the cemetery including members of the Bradford Eastern Star which attended the services in body. Rev. C.D. McCAMMON also had charge of the services at the grave. Elsie STURM was born Dec. 19, 1879 on a farm near Bradford where she resided with her parents until they moved to Tampico in 1900. She attended the Bradford schools, took a prominent part in the social and church work of that community. She was married at Bradford March 21, 1900 to Willard LUTES and with him came to Tampico making their home on the STURM farm west of town. Mr. LUTES health failing he sough relief from lung trouble in Texas and New Mexico where she followed him and they took up a claim in the Estancia Valley of New Mexico where they resided until his death from tuberculosis which occurred while they were alone down there on the plains December 8, 1907. After Mr. LUTES death she came home here again. She was married to Sherman CUMMINGS Jan. 3, 1910 in Peoria and they established their home in Tampico. Mr. CUMMINGS died quite suddenly following an operation on Jan. 3, 1912. She was married to Percy J. HAYES July 3, 1914 who with one daughter, Miss Marie LUTES survives. Here parents, Mr. and Mrs. James STURM, two sisters, Mrs. Roy McKENZIE of this place and Mrs. Edna ARNOLD of Walnut also survive.

Elsie HAYES was a fine, lovable character and was universally loved in the community where she spent the last years of her life. She was a member of the Methodist church and took an active interest in everything that pertained to its welfare. She came from a prominent family of the community who have the sympathy of everybody in this the first loss in their family circle. To know Elsie was to love here, considerate of parents, relatives and friends, always sympathetic and wishing to do something good for somebody she will be missed not only form the home but from the entire community. It would seem that in life her cup of misfortune and sorrow had been filled and refilled but through all her sorrows she bore bravely and bowed to the will of Him who knows better than any human. Suffering keenly at times her sweet patience, cheerfulness and hope even as she went down into the valley of the shadow have been sweet, comforting remembrances to relatives and friends.