Mrs. Chas. Willets, a former resident southwest of Elwood for twenty years, died at her home in Lexington Monday morning following a long illness.

Short services were conducted at the home in Lexington yesterday afternoon at one o’clock and at two o’clock in the local Christian church, both services being in charge of B. E. Parish. The Christian church quartette sang at both services.

Emma L. Speck was born June 24, 1864 at Oquaka, Henderson county, Illinois, and died at Lexington, Sept. 21, 1931, at the age of 67 years. In 1871 she came with her mother, brothers and sisters to Nebraska and located near Harvard, her father having died serving as a soldier in the Civil war.

Later she came to Turkey Creek near Bertrand and Smithfield where she lived before moving to Lexington and where she resided for over twenty years.

Having come here in the early days she suffered the hardships of the pioneer but was always cheerful, kind and thoughtful to those less fortunate than herself.

In 1880 she married Wm. Estes who died March 25, 1883. To this union one child was born, now Mrs. Alvin Hopkins. Later, in March, 1886, she was married to Chas. Willets and to this union three children were born. Some years ago she joined the Christian church of Elwood of which she was a member at the time of her death. She will be greatly missed among her neighbors and friends who have known her so long.

She leaves to mourn her departure her husband, Chas. Willets; two sons, Ray and Carl, both of Elwood; two daughters, Mrs. Alvin Hopkins of Bertrand and Mrs. Floyd Morton of Lexington; one brother, Frank Speck of Lexington and one sister, Mrs. Wm. Frazell of Grand Island; besides other relatives and friends.

Interment was made in the Elwood cemetery.

The Elwood Bulletin 36(17):2 Thursday, September 24, 1931