Pheba (ZORNES) SHELDON

ZORNES, SHELDON, DORFF, VAN PELT, BEAR, SMITH

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/9/2009 at 02:16:11

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1930

OBITUARY - MRS. REUBEN SHELDON.

Pheba ZORNES was born in Blakesburg, Iowa, March 3, 1859, and departed this life at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John DORFF, in Diagonal, Iowa, June 4, 1930, aged 71 years, three months and one day.

When a child only three years of age her parents moved to Decatur county, Iowa, where she grew to young womanhood. Just fifty-three years ago, June 10, 1877, she was united in marriage to Mr. Reuben SHELDON (sic). To this union were born twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Two children died in infancy and one daughter at the age of 20 years. There are five sons and four daughters who survive and all of those with the exception of three sons and one daughter were with their mother at the time of her death.

Mrs. SHELDON lived happily with her husband in the Kellerton community for fifty-five years of that time residing on the same farm. They resided at Beaconsfield after leaving the farm, but because of her failing health, most of their time was spent with their children. For the past year they have made their home here in Diagonal with their daughter, Mrs. Elnora DORF, where Mrs. SHELDON passed away.

Mrs. SHELDON united with the Presbyterian church in her young girlhood and has remained steadfast in that faith throughout her entire life, retaining her membership in that church until her death.

During her last illness, Mrs. SHELDON was cared for with great tenderness and love by her children, and everything was done for her comfort that loving hands could do. She will be greatly missed by her loved ones, for her home and children came first in her life and caused her great happiness. A good wife and mother has gone to her reward.

Besides her aged husband she leaves to mourn her death five sons and four daughters. They are Mrs. Elnora DORFF of Diagonal; E. C. SHELDON of Dickson, Mo.; Leonard Burr and Leroy SHELDON, and Mrs. Olive Van PELT, all of Douglas, Wyo.; Mrs. Annie BEAR of Kellerton; Mrs. Myra SMITH of Albany, Mo.; and Guy SHELDON of Beaconsfield. Also there are forty-two granchildren, and two sisters and one brother surviving.

Funeral services were held at the Kellerton M. E. church Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, conducted by Rev. J. E. MATHENY, of the Diagonal Methodist church, assisted by Rev. CLARK, pastor of the Kellerton M. E. church. Interment was made in the Beaconsfield cemetery.

NOTE: Pheba's name has also been spelled as "Phebe." She is listed in the transciption of Centenary Cemetery near Knowlton, Ringgold County, Iowa. Reuben's obituary stated that he was interred at Maple Row Cemetery, yet he is listed in the transcriptions of Oliver Cemetery near Ellston, Iowa.

Elnora (SHELDEN) was born in 1878 and died in 1957 with interment at Oliver Cemetery near Ellston beside her husband, John DORFF (1850-1929).

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008