p. 384 | Obituary

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 3, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 21.

Obituary.

WAGGONER.—Died in Oakland, Cal., May 20, 1889, Ernest Eugene Waggoner, only son of Elder E. J. and Jessie F. Waggoner, aged 9 months and 8 days. Little Ernest was a frail child and had ever required the most tender care and careful nursing, but all that loving hands were able to do could not stay the hand of disease, and his life has been suddenly cut short, and they have laid him away to await the coming of the Life-giver. This affliction, coming as it does so soon after the death of Brother Waggoner's father, will be doubly hard to bear. But in this, as well as in the other bereavement, they sorrow not as others that have no hope, for they have the assurance that if they are only faithful they will meet him again in the morning of the resurrection.

Another sad feature of the case was the fact that only a few days before the death of the child, the husband and father started on his journey East to fill important engagements, and so will never have the pleasure of beholding the face of his loved one again in this life. But we have the assurance that little Ernest will come again from the land of the enemy, and this hope will sustain the parents in their hour of deep trial and affliction. Words of comfort were spoken by Elder St. John from Jer. 31:15, 16. C. H. JONES.

JONES.—Died of diphtheria at Healdsburg, Cal., May 16, 1889, John Byron Jones, aged 15 years, 6 months, and 4 days. Brother Byron was the son of Elder E. R. Jones and wife. He gave good evidence of full acceptance with God. He said he only cared to live that he might improve his time in doing good. He gave charge to some of his schoolmates “to make sure work for eternity.” After this he said, “If they will only take my warning.”

Brother and Sister Jones feel to put their trust in Him who “doeth all things well.” We not only endeavored to comfort, with the precious hope, those who mourned, but we tried to present before all the many chances for doing good in this life, and the need of making sure work for the life to come. And we felt that the case of Brother Byron was more to be desired than that of many who live in folly and heedlessness. W. M. HEALEY.

SHEA.—Died at Ox Bow, N. Y., April 22, 1889, Viola M. Shea, aged 17 years, 11 months, and 21 days. Desirous of obtaining an education, she put forth earnest efforts in that direction; but an over-exertion of the physical and mental powers made her an easy victim of typhoid fever, which was followed by cerebro-spinal meningitis, and her bright hopes were quickly blasted by death. When surrounded by evil influences, she ever remained true to principles of integrity. She kept the Sabbath a short time before her death, and resolved to be more faithful in the future, and besought her mother to follow the Saviour. When she could no longer speak except in a whisper, her earnest prayers to God could be heard during the restless nights of her illness. She leaves a mother, stricken with grief, a brother and sister, besides other relatives and a large number of friends. Amid the gloom and darkness, the bright star of hope bids us look to Him who is the resurrection and the life. L. W.

HERRIMAN.—Died at Fresno, Cal., May 14, 1889, Sister Ellen Louisa Herriman, aged 59 years, 7 months, and 12 days. She was brought under the influence of the truth in her youthful days, when she gave her heart to God and joined the church. December 25, 1859, she was united in marriage with our esteemed brother, L. P. Herriman. She is the mother of four children. One daughter resides in Wisconsin and one son in Nevada. The other children, in Fresno, Cal., are left with the husband and father to mourn their loss, but not as those who have no hope.

Her disease, chronic ulceration of the liver, was very painful. But calm trust in God remained with her to the end. She expected to die, talked about it, prayed about it. We frequently had the privilege of counseling and praying with her. At such times the sweet spirit of the Saviour would come very near. The terrors of death to her were swept away by the bright glories that faith beheld just beyond. We believe she sleeps in Jesus, “that blessed sleep from which none ever wake to weep.” Words of comfort were spoken by the writer from Rev. 14:13. J. H. COOK. (Review and Herald please copy.)

BROWN.—Died at Lafayette, Contra Costa County, Cal., May 14, 1889, Brother Warren Brown. He was born in Morgan County, Ill., June 19, 1826, and was consequently aged 62 years, 10 months, and 25 days. He leaves a wife, brother, and other relatives to mourn their loss. Among the mourners was the father of the deceased, aged 92 years, who attended the funeral and rode a distance of 30 miles in a carriage on that day. Brother Brown came to California in 1847, and took up his residence in Contra Costa County soon after, and was at various times elected to the offices of county surveyor, member of the assembly, and sheriff. A local paper said of him: “He was one of the few men left whose home had been here since 1849, and during that long period of forty years no man has enjoyed the esteem of his fellow-citizens in a greater degree than himself.” About 13 years ago Brother Brown accepted the truths of the Bible, and had fallen with faith in the soon coming of his Lord and Saviour. We tried to point out the value of that hope to a large congregation of sympathetic friends. He was a man of robust constitution, but began to fail in health about two years ago, and about three months ago had a slight shock of paralysis and rapidly sank, a great sufferer, till death gained a victory for a little season, when “the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” W. M. HEALEY.