Mary Elizabeth Kerley, wife of Dr. T.B. Kerley, and daughter
of Lewis and Catherine Simmons, was born September 30, 1863, near
Simpson, Illinois and died April 13, 1948, after a short illness.
She was married to T.B. Kerley March 18,1886, and was of great
assistance in helping him to obtain his medical education. They
made their home in Simpson, where she devoted her life to her
family and the betterment of her community. She was the proud
mother of four sons, one son, Lindolph R. Kerley was killed while
serving with the U.S. Army in France in World War 1. One of the
greatest sorrows in her life was the loss of a son.
In early life she joined the County Line Baptist church, later
moving her membership to the Simpson Baptist Church, where she
was an ardent worker and an outstanding Christian in the community.
She was also a Gold Star member of the Harry Sullins Post, American
Legion Auxiliary, Vienna, Ill., and the Royal Neighbors of America
Camp, Simpson, Ill.
Her husband passed away June 27, 1941. Mrs. Kerley continued to
make her home in Simpson until last October when she moved to
Golconda to be near her son, Ollin, and remained very active for
her age until the last five weeks previous to her death.
(Sons listed) also- three grandsons, Homer Kerley, of Alhambra,
Calif., Maurice Kerley, of Long Beach, Calif., and Dr. T.G. Kerley,
of Urbana, Ill. one granddaughter, Mrs. Mary Ruth George, of Madison,
Ill., and 3 great grand daughters and one sister , Mrs. Leora
Toler, of Simpson.
Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon, April 15, 1948,
from the Simpson Baptist church of which she was a member, conducted
by Rev. Ernest Ammon, of Harrisburg. Burial was in the Vienna
Fraternal Cemetery, Vienna, Ill.