The Carthage Gazette
Carthage, Illinois
Friday
July 16, 1943

MRS. SUSAN RHEA
BELOVED LA HARPE
CITIZEN SUCCUMBS

LaHarpe Quill -- Rev. S. B. Hopper officiated last Thursday afternoon at funeral services, largely attended by life-long friends of Mrs. Susan Maybelle Rhea, 82, highly esteemed citizen of this city for the past 52 years, who succumbed to an illness of only a few days' duration at her home on West Main street at 10:00 p. m. last Tuesday, June 29, 1943.

Scores of bereaved neighbors and friends thronged the Walters and Son Funeral Home for the rites, and myriads of gorgeous flowers -- an appropriate tribute to one noted for her life-long love of them and eagerness always to share her own lovely blossoms with others -- adorned the bier and front of the chapel as a glowing tribute was paid to a beloved woman.

Following the service, the remains were taken to LaHarpe cemetery to be laid to their eternal rest beside her husband, the late Dr. L. J. Rhea, for many years a well-known and popular practicing physician.

While she had been frail for several years, Mrs. Rhea had not really been ill until about two days before her sudden passing and had not really become critically ill until a few hours before death.

Born Near Plymouth

Susan Maybelle Rhea, one of the twelve children of Acrey and Malinda Berry, was born near Plymouth, Hancock county, Illinois on April 24, 1861, and with the exception of two years spent in Iowa, had been a life-long resident of Hancock county.

She was married to Dr. Levi Jackson Rhea at Oak Grove north of Plymouth on October 19, 1880, and the happy couple became the parents of three children, Atlee A. Rhea, Mrs. Ollie Hallowell, both of this city, and Mamie B. Hull, of Des Moines, Iowa.  In addition to these children, to whom mother's death is a deep burden of grief, are two grandchildren, Rhea Hull, of Des Moines and Henry Hallowell, now with the U. S. Army somewhere in North Africa, three grandchildren, Rhea Hull, Jr., Elizabeth Ann Hull of Des Moines and Donald Wayne Hallowell of Muscatine, Iowa, and three sisters, Mrs. Edward Smith and Mrs. Mattie Smith both of Carthage, and Mrs. William Twaddle of Fandon.

Husband Died in 1930

Dr. and Mrs. Rhea and their children moved to the present home here from Caro, Iowa.  They enjoyed prosperity and happiness and the friendship and respect of this entire community.  Dr. Rhea passed away on June 1, 1930 after many years of the successful practice of medicine, and in the years that have passed since, the mother and son, Atlee, have kept up the home.  They have been true companions, the actions of each guided by the needs of the other, and death effects a difficult separation, bringing wounds that time alone can mitigate with understanding of the larger and greater purposes of the universe.

Mrs. Rhea became a member of the LaHarpe Christian church soon after the family moved to this city and she had been a valued worker both there and the Union church, where she later attended services, participated in activities of the church and was a faithful member of the A. W. T. Sunday school class.  She was a good and a kind soul, whose disposition and philosophy are qualities that will he sincerely missed.  She has lived a good life and gone to a reward commensurate with her living.

We miss thee from our home dear
       Mother,
We miss thee from thy place
A shadow o'er our life is cast
We miss the sunshine of thy face.
We miss thy kind and willing hand
Thy fond and earnest care;
Our home is dark without thee,
We miss thee everywhere.

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