Mrs. Nancy Maria Maxson Coon entered into rest on the morning of April 12, 1915, at Rochester, N. Y., from the home of her son, Willis H. Coon, whose serious and protracted illness had called her daughter, Mrs. Campbell, and herself to his bedside.
Mrs. Coon was the daughter of Thomas L. Maxson and Jane Tower Spear Maxson, and was born in DeRuyter, N. Y., July 7, 1832.
She was married February 18, 1849, to Henry Clark Coon in the first Baptist church of the village. Later, she connected herself with the Seventh Day Baptist church of which her husband was a member. She was conscientious, earnest, and faithful in her Christian life until its close.
Gifted by nature in an unusual degree, she possessed a mind of wonderful versatility. Nothing that others had accomplished was too hard for her to undertake, either of practical or artistic value. Many a burden from which others might shrink, she bore with a brave and cheery heart. Even during her last years she kept fully abreast of her time, eager still to do for others in the world's work.
Proficient in music, both vocal and instrumental, she held the position of organist for many years in the DeRuyter church, of which her husband was chorister, never absent unless detained by illness. She was correspondingly faithful in all other departments of church and humanitarian activities. For the comfort of those in deepest sorrow, as they laid away their precious dead, both she and Mr. Coon were ever ready to use their musical gifts in the service of sacred song.
Many beautiful sentiments in poetry and prose, the product of her pen, will be treasured by those who loved her best. Five of nine children given them grew to manhood and womanhood.
Advancing years and increasing feebleness on the part of Mr. Coon decided them to leave their lifelong home and spend their declining years with their children. They went first to the spacious home of their daughter, Mrs. William P. Campbell, in Seneca Falls, N. Y., where the father passed away some twelve years ago. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Campbell removed to Alfred, N. Y., to educate her two sons, her mother accompanying her. There they spent six happy years, later going together to Brooklyn. At the time of her death, Mrs. Coon had a home with her youngest, son, Benjamin Coon, of Phelps, N. Y. Another brother, Louis, died suddenly about two years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Coon celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at the home of their eldest son, Willis, in Rochester, a few years before Mr. Coon's decease.
Mrs. Campbell, with her brother Benjamin Coon, and wife, accompanied the precious remains of their devoted and much beloved mother to the family burial place In DeRuyter, where earth was consigned to earth just as a glorious sunset seemed to open the gates of the Beautiful Beyond.
M. S. W.
