Tossie Mabel Brownell Ebert (1894-1960)
Mrs. Fred Ebert

Celebrate Wedding Anniversary

January 1, 1920, being the 6th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ebert, they decided to invite in a few friends to spend the evening. The evening was spent in playing games and visiting.

At eleven o'clock refreshments were served, after which the guest departed, feeling that they had passed a very enjoyable evening and wishing Mr. and Mrs. Ebert many more anniversaries. Those present were Messrs and Mesdames Frank Ebert, Vernon Dickinson, George Vandercar, Keith Dinwiddie, Arthur Miller, Albert Klukas, Willard Hertz, Clarence Turner, Otto Klukas, Forrest Brannock, Will Bahr; Mrs. Stella Wallace,; Misses Mable Einspahr, Gale Koplin, Sylvia Thatcher, Julia Stenerson, Marguerite Brownell, Irene Worley, Ruth Nichols, Bessie Ebert, Ruby Nichols, Agnes Ebert, Maxine Dinwiddie, Ivis Hertz, Thelma and Mildred Klukas, Beatrice and Stella Ebert, Madge Vandercar; Messrs Gerald Ebert, Delwyn Nichols, Milfred Bahr, Cecil Kenney, Ernest Ebert, Neil Bahr, Beryl and Carlton Eberts, Ernest Bahr, Harold Brownell, Roy Dickinson and Wayne Vandercar.

Open House In Florida Honors Fred Eberts

New Year's Day marked the 40th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ebert and honoring them on the occasion, their son-in-law and daughter, Tom and Beatrice Folsom, arranged an open house at their spacious home near Seffner, Florida. The names of more than 100 friends, relatives and neighbors were registered in their book of memories by the honoree's granddaughters, Kay and Marian Folsom.

Red was the keynote of the lovely decorations, suggested by the ruby, designated to mark this important 40th milestone along the marital pathway. Bouquets of red gladioli adorned the dining room and a lovely ruby red linen cloth, Christmas gift of their son and his wife, Carlton and Jeanette Ebert, covered the table. Red rosebuds trimmed the three-tiered cake baked by a friend, Mrs. Charles Summers. Tiny cup cakes decorated with a red numeral 40 and bell-shaped open sandwiches, made by Mrs. Morris Gilbert and Mrs. Millard Ebert, were artfully arranged on the refreshment table. Mrs. Louis Amidei, Sr., Mrs. Lester Ebert, Mrs. Mark Jandreau, and Mrs. Charles Meahle presided.

The celebrants were the recipients of many beautiful gifts, flowers, cards, congratulatory telegrams, and four phone calls from Indiana added thrills to the memorable day.

Fred and Tossie extend thanks to their many friends for remembering them on this happy event and wish that all could have enjoyed the pleasant day with them in sunny Florida.

Lifetime residents of the Lowell-Orchard Grove community, Fred and Tossie enjoy the fall and winter seasons in Florida, leaving the farm operations to their son, Carlton. When at home they are active participants in the affairs of the Indian Trail Grange, Lowell Methodist church and many social and federated organizations.

The Tribune and their host of area friends send congratulations to them down Florida way.

The Tom Folsoms were pleased to have as their overnight guests on the New Year, Atty. and Mrs. Morris Gilbert of Lowell, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Ebert and Mr. and Mrs. Millard Ebert of Crown Point.

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil A. Grayson and Mr. and Mrs. George Rust of Crown Point, also were guests in the Folsom home at Seffner last week.

News of interest concerning Lowell folks who are spending the winter in Florida comes to home friends, via a letter received from the Fred Eberts. The Eberts and their daughter and family, the Tom Folsoms, entertained a "crowd" of friends at dinner on Sunday, December 2, honoring Mr. and Mrs. Louis Amidel, Sr., on their 45th wedding anniversary. On Saturday evening, December 8, Mrs. Folsom was installed president of the Thonotassassa Lions Club Auxilliary. Mrs. Ebert says they are enjoying all kinds of lovely vegetables from their garden.

Mrs. Fred Ebert, Community Leader

The community is deeply grieved by the sudden death Saturday evening, Feb. 27, of Mrs. Fred (Tossie) Ebert, 65. She succumbed to a heart attack immediately after retiring, following a full day of her usual bustling activity and an evening with friends. She passed away in the home of her daughter and family, the Tom Folsoms at Thonotassassa, Florida, where she and Mr. Ebert owned an orange grove and for the past 10 years had spent nine months there annually to care for their grove and harvest the fruit. Their summers were enjoyed on their farm 3 miles east of Lowell in the Orchard Grove community, which their son, Carlton and family, operate.

Tossie Mabel was born on April 11, 1894, at the farm home of her parents, J. Carlton and Addie (Wallace) Brownell in the Orchard Grove community, east of Lowell. Her mother died at her birth and she was reared by her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Stella Wallace. She was married to Fred Ebert of the same community on New Year’s day, 1914, in her Grandmother Wallace’s home. The couple spent their lifetime together on the farm where they reared their three children, Mrs. Tom (Beatrice) Folsom, Carlton and Mrs. Kenneth (Stella Marion) Hamilton. The latter preceded her mother in death in August 1943.

Surviving with her husband, Fred and daughter, Mrs. Folsom and son, Carlton, are four granddaughters and five grandsons; also a sister, Mrs. Horace (Marguerite) Carter of East Chicago, and three brothers, Clark and Harold "Bus" Brownell of Lowell and Lamar Brownell of Highland; besides a host of friends and other relatives.

Tossie was the first 4-H club leader in Lake county, serving in the 1920’s and 30’s. She was a lifelong member of the First Methodist church and a member of the Women’s Society of Christian Service here and in Florida, a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101, the Lowell Woman’s club, Thonotassassa Lady Lions, DAR, Order of Eastern Star, Past Chiefs club, Farm Bureau social and educational leader, the Home Demonstration club, and was a leader in Indian Trail Grange activities. She also held membership in neighborhood social clubs.

Tossie was an ardent gardener and loved everyone. Her home was always filled with relatives and friends, including many children. On Feb. 14 she and her family extended their hospitality to 65 south Lake county residents at the annual potluck dinner held at their farm home in Florida.

Memorial services were held in the Blount Funeral Home at Thonotassassa, Monday, Feb. 29, with the Rev. Jack Kelley and the Rev, Arthur Brown officiating.

Floral tributes from her host of Florida friends filled the chapel.

She was returned home for services which will be held at 2 p.m., March 4, in the Eskridge Funeral Home. The Rev. E.L. Worley and the Rev. Claude Eaton will officiate. Burial will be in Orchard Grove cemetery.