Mary Bell Messersmith was born at Ottumwa, Iowa March 23, 1877 and departed this life May 13, 1954 at Rapid City, S. D. at the age of 77 years, one month and 20 days.

When a child she moved with her parents to Gage county, Nebr. At the age of seven, where she grew to womanhood.

She was united in marriage at North Platte, Nebr. September 22, 1897 to Charles Bray. To this union three children were born. Her husband preceded her in death October 9, 1944.

After residing in different localities in Nebraska, she spent the last 10 years of her life at Paxton and Rapid City, S. D.

She was a kind and loving mother and always ready to lend a helping hand.

The immediate family surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Fred Clafin of Paxton and Mrs. John Nickolas of Rapid City, S. D.; one son, Floyd of Scottsbluff; four grand children, Mrs. Marvin Contryman and Mrs. Leroy Jorgensen of Paxton, Mrs. John Walker of Roscoe and Howard Claflin with the Army in France; eight great grand children; two sisters, Mrs. Lucy Adkisson of Farnam and Mrs. Amanda Kelly of Weatherford, Okla., and four brothers, Harry and Lonnie of Farnam, George of Mountain Grove, Mo. and Andy of North Platte.

The Curtis Enterprise 63(17):3 Thursday, May 27, 1954