Celistea R. Thomas Surprise
(Mrs. William Surprise)
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From the Lowell Tribune, Jan 23, 1936, page 8, column 2. (Also found in the Clipping Files at Lowell Public Library--LH--"Vital Statistics," Vol. 3, p. 15.)
- OBITUARY
- Celista* (Thomas) Surprise was born May 5, 1857 on a farm, located near the north-east shores of what is now Wonder Lake. Her childhood was the usual frugal and hardy development of the early pioneer families--some real hardships, some pleasures, an occasional month or two of schooling--and some genuine flashes of happiness--all combined to develop and fit her for her many years of rich, full life as a neighbor and a wife.
- On April 13, 1875 she was united in marriage to William Surprise, who, like herself, was born and raised in the same rural community and under similar conditions. To this union were born eight children, four of whom survive: One daughter, Mrs. Cora Latta of Thayer, and three sons, Cass W. of Cedar Lake, Guy of Lowell, and Glenn M. of Cedar Lake. Mrs. Surprise was preceded in death by her husband almost 18 years.
- During her entire life she never was too tired nor too busy to fail to render kind and merciful services to her family, her relatives or her many neighbors. By every anaylsis she rightfully belonged to that select class of useful and excellent citizens, conservatively liberal in her opinions concerning man's relations to man and man's obligations to God.
- She leaves, besides her four children, seven grand children, one great grand daughter, three brothers Emery Thomas, Lowell; Delbert Thomas of Knox, and Aldus Thomas, of Joliet, Ill.; one sister, Mary Reed, of Walkerton, Ind., and numerous other relatives and hosts of friends.
- Funeral services were held at the Weaver funeral home Saturday at 2 p.m., conducted by Edmond Worley. Interment beside her husband in Lowell cemetery in charge of Weaver & Son.
* NOTE -- Although this obituary gives her first name as "Celista," the name on her headstone is "Celistea."
Go to Celista Thomas Surprise, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
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