James Arthur Heumphreus, the only son of Arthur and Amy Heumphreus, was born near Eustis, Nebraska, October 5, 1914, and died August 16, 1936, at Pawnee City, Nebraska, at the age of 21 years, ten months and eleven days.

James’ early death was due to the accidental discharge of his target pistol while an enrollee of Camp Pawnee, Division 755, of the Civilian Conservation Corps, located near Pawnee City, Nebraska.

He spent his early life on a farm northeast of Farnam, where he attended the rural schools and then the Farnam high school for three years.

From the winter of 1932 until he entered the Civilian Conservation Corps, January 3, 1935, at Albion, Nebraska, he spent with his parents. He stayed at Albion, in Camp Boone, until November 1, 1935, when the camp was moved to Pawnee City, where he met his untimely death.

He leaves to mourn his death, his father and mother, three sisters, Marjorie, Bernice and Jean, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Mercer of Cozad, Nebraska, and numerous other relatives and friends. He was a good boy, loved by all who knew him. He looked upon life quite seriously, and his aim was to help his parents and sisters all he could.

The funeral services were held at the Davis funeral home at Cozad, conducted by the Rev. A. P. Cooper, retired pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Cozad, assisted by Rev. John H. Rayner, chaplin of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Division 755, both of whom gave brief addresses. The young man who was with him at the time of his death, accompanied the body home and was one of the pallbearers.

The music was by a mixed quartette composed of Archie Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Alf Richey and Mrs. David Halversadt. THey sang, “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” and “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” Mrs. Bert Richey presided at the piano. The burial was in the west cemetery at Eustis.

The obituary was concluded with the following verses of James Whitcomb Riley:

I cannot say, and I will not say
The he is dead, he is just away.
With a cheery smile, and a wave of his hand,
He has wandered into an unknown land,
And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be, since he lingers there.
And you, O you, who the wildest yearn
For the old-time step, and glad return,
Think of him as faring on, as dear
In the love of There, as the love of Here.
Think of him still, as the same. I say,
He is not dead—he is just away.

He is not dead, he is just away.

We thank the many friends and neighbors for their kind tokens of sympathy and the many services rendered us in our bereavement in the loss of our beloved son, James. We thank the singers for the songs and those that sent the lovely flowers. These comforting expressions of sympathy will always be remembered with deep gratitude.

Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Heumphreus, Marjorie, Bernice and Jean.

The Farnam Echo, 52(51):1 Thursday, August 27, 1936