Wilson, Mrs. William (Vena) 1875-1959

HAWLEY, WILSON, TUTTLE, ROEWE

Posted By: Janet Schuldt, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/20/2015 at 16:11:10

Laurens Sun, Laurens, Pocahontas, Iowa August 27, 1959

Services Held for Former Resident,Mrs. Vena Wilson

Mrs. Vena Wilson Funeral services for Mrs. Vena Wilson, 84, of Milford, Utah, a former Laurens resident, were held at 1 p.m. Sunday at First Methodist Church in Laurens. Mrs. Wilson died Tuesday, Aug. 18, at Milford.

The Rev. R. D. Butler, pastor of the Church, officiated. Mrs. James Gannon, accompanied by Mrs. Willis Godfrey, sang "Ivory Palaces" and "The End of a Perfect Day."

Pallbearers were C. F. Hawley, Ted Tuttle, Orville Hawley, Joe Roewe, Henry Roewe and Resor Cowan. Burial was in the Laurens cemetery, with Hitchcock Funeral Home in charge.

Fifth Child

Lavena Maud Hawley, daughter of George and Mary Hawley, was born Sept. 7, 1875, near Ogdensburg, N. Y. She was the fifth child in a family of 10. At the age of five she came with her parents to the new state of Iowa, making their home on what is now known as the old Hawley farm near Laurens.

At the age of 16 she became a teacher in a one-room country school. She taught for 16 years in country and town schools, and for a time was head of the normal department of Central College at Pella. She was a graduate of Iowa State Teachers College, and studied at the State University of Iowa and the University of Chicago.

She later lived in California, where she was engaged in business, before moving to Utah as a homesteader. In Utah she was married to William J. Wilson, who died in 1922 and is buried in the Laurens cemetery.

Active in Church

Mrs. Wilson was active in the church and civic organizations, Eastern Star, Rebekahs, and Business and Professional Women. For many years she taught the Bible class at the Methodist Community Church. At the age of 73 she went back to school again, taking same work at Milford High School and tutoring students.

Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. George Tuttle of Remsen, Phronia Hawley of Milford, Utah, and Mrs. Fred Roewe of Laurens.