Jayne A. (Jennie) PAYNE
Unidentified Oberlin Paper January 12, 1933

  FUNERAL  SERVICES MRS. McCLAURY

  Held at Presbyterian Church Friday Afternoon January Sixth

  Another of  Oberlin’s aged mothers was laid to rest Friday afternoon in the Oberlin cemetery after appropriate services at the Presbyterian church.

  For twenty-five years she had been a resident of Oberlin and for another twenty-five years previous to that the McClaury home was located in the South Sappa valley eleven miles southwest of Oberlin. And it was a real home – a home not only for the children of the family but every visitor (and Mrs. McClaury delighted in entertaining visitors) was made to feel at home.

  The mother of eleven children she has lived to rear nine of them (two died in childhood) to manhood and womanhood and see them establish homes of their own. And doubtless her later years were filled with pleasant memories of her life work – the teaching and training of the young lives entrusted to her care.  And surely if any person can merit by her life here on earth the reward of a heavenly  home for evermore it is such a mother as Mrs. McClaury has been.

  As will be noted in the 25-years-ago items the death of her husband, Major S.H. McClaury, occurred twenty-five year ago – January 14, 1908, shortly after the family sold their farm and moved to Oberlin.

  Jennie A. Payne only daughter of Homer and Louise Greely Payne was born in Prompton, Pa., May 23, 1847, departed this life January 4. 1933, in Oberlin Kansas.

  She had reached the age of 84 years, 7 months and 11 days. With her parents she came to Ottawa, Ill. Where her mother died. Altho (sic) but eight years old she was a little mother to her five brothers and sisters most of them older than she.

  She was married to her soldier lover Sheldon Hamilton McClaury in 1865. She moved to Smith county, Kansas in 1776 (sic) and to Decatur county in 1881. She knew all the hardships of a pioneer life. There were 11 children born to this union two of whom have gone to their reward.

  Mrs. McClaury was never too tired  or too burdened with cares of her own family to readily respond to the call for help when there was sickness or trouble in her neighborhood.

  In the spring of 1908 she united with the Presbyterian church. She was ever a follower of the Master and lived a life of good deeds. It can be truly said of her "“Give here the fruits of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.” All of her children were present at the funeral to do honor to her memory.

  Mrs. J.H. Rice  and Mrs. E.S. Barger of Smith Center, Kansas; Mrs. F.C. Pratt of Kensington, Mrs. H. Wood of Cheyenne, Wyo, Mrs. Harry Hooper of Coffeyville, Kansas, Mrs. Ray Quintard of Alta, Iowa; Ray of Haigler, Nebr., Harry and Gene of the home town.

  The services Friday afternoon at the Presbyterian church were conducted by the new pastor, Rev. John Berg. The theme of his discourse and the musical selections were in keeping with the life of Mrs. McClaury and very appropriate.

  Burial was made in Oberlin cemetery in the family burial plot, the Griffith being in charge.

 Submitted by Walt Jones   waltrjones@omnicast.net