After an illness of eleven days Hannah Watts passed away last Saturday morning at 9:10 A. M. On Tuesday August 2, Mrs. Watts was taken very ill, falling unconscious. Later she rallied and it was hoped that she might recover but on Wednesday before her death she suffered another attack which the doctor attributed to the breaking of a blood vessel in the brain. This time she sank into unconsciousness from which she never recovered. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. Nathan Thomas conducting the service in the absence of Rev. Polan. At the home she loved and in which she had spent so many happy and useful years, relatives and friends from near and far gathered with her husband and children to pay their last respects to this good woman. Within the home and outside, in flowers and garden were many evidences of the labor of those capable hands now folded to rest.
Rev. Thomas chose as the fitting subject for his remarks the words from Job 5: 26. 'Thou shalt come to the grave in a full age, like a shock of corn cometh in, in his season.'
A mixed quartette consisting of Esther Babcock, Jessie Comstock, David and Minnie Davis sang the songs most cherished by Mrs. Watts and her husband. The last selection 'I'm Praying for You,' was one she had requested her children to sing shortly before her death and reveals the keynote of her life. Tributes of flowers were many and beautiful. The pall bearers were her five sons-in law and Clark Roby, whom she had mothered during his residence in her home. After the last rites, the body was tenderly laid to rest in the Hillside cemetery. Orville Sowl of Ord had charge of the funeral arrangements.
For many years Hannah Watts with her snowy hair and dignified presence has quietly and unobtrusively played an important part in the life of the church and community as well as within her home, and she will be missed in all these relations. Keen sorrow that a life so useful even in the fullness of years should be thus ended, is felt on every side and the husband and family have the sympathy of all.
Out of the large family only one sister, Mrs. Grace Hutchins and one brother, Peter Clement of Lincoln were present at the time of Mrs. Watts death. The obituary, written by his wife was read by Peter Clement.
Hannah Clement Curry Watts was born in Richardson County, Nebraska, June 11, 1868 and died Sabbath morning August 13, 1927 at her home in North Loup, Nebraska.
She was one of thirteen children born to Benjamin and Eliza Lippincott Clement.
Her childhood was spent at Welton, Iowa until she was eleven years old when the family moved to a farm on Davis Creek south of North Loup. Her she grew to young womanhood.
She was married June 25, 1886 to Charles Percy Curry. To this union were born Ellen Pearl and Leona May. Mr. Curry died in February 1889.
Hannah Curry was married to Henry Arthur Watts January 30, 1892. To these were born Madge Louise, Martin Eugene, and Nellie Eva. Beside her husband and her five children and her step-daughter, Jesse Watts Comstock, all of whom are married and living in their own homes, Mrs. Watts leaves to mourn her passing seventeen grandchildren, five brothers, four sisters and one half-sister. All her children, her husband, one sister, Mrs. Grace Hutchins and a brother, Peter E. were with her during the brief illness which ended with her death.
When about fourteen years of age, she was baptized under the ministry of Elder M. B. True, assisted at the time by Elder C. M. Lewis and joined the Seventh Day Baptist church of Davis Creek. When a few years later the church disbanded because of the removal of its members, she with others of her family asked for membership in the North Loup church of like faith. She was received January 6, 1894.
Except for two or three years spent in Northern Wisconsin Hannah has lived her life as a part of this community. She came at a time when pioneer life was at its hardest. She did her part patiently and unshirkingly, faithful to the least as well as the greatest obligation.
In her later years, after her family was grown, she gave a great deal of time to public service. She has served the various departments of her church faithfully and well. For many years she was in charge of the Home Department of the Sabbath School. The Women's Missionary Society had no member more regular in attendance or more willing in service. She found great pleasure in attending and taking part in the meetings of the No Lo club of which she was a member. She was always to be depended upon for help in any community undertaking. 'Art' and 'Hannah' as they were known among their friends have always been popular in social life, and have had a large part in promoting a gay and wholesome fellowship in the circle of their acquaintances.
It is for the unselfishness and constancy of her devotion to her home and its ties that Hannah Watts will be remembered most tenderly. Under the trying conditions of pioneer years, the equipment for homemaking was often limited, but wherever she presided her house was a home. Nor was its influences limited to her own family, many young people living under her roof transiently, have learned a new meaning to the word home.
She was indeed a woman whose children rise up and call her blessed. O. A. C.
