OBITUARY
Mrs. Elizabeth Hersey
RITCHEY, Mo. -- Mrs. Pricilla Elizabeth Hersey. 85 years old, of Ritchey died Monday morning at the Sale Memorial hospital in Neosho.
Born in Green County, Kentucky, December 26, 1877, she moved to Newton County more than 75 years ago. She had lived in Ritchey for 70 years. She was a member of the Ritchey Baptist Church.
She is survived by three daughters. Mrs. Loraine Barbee of Portland, Ore., Mrs. Ruth Largen and Mrs. Rhoda Poore, both of Independence, Mo; two sons, Oscar Hersey of Granby route 1 and B. K. Hersey of Independence; a stepbrother, Otis Hazel of Joplin, nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the Ritchey Baptist Church. The Rev. Cecil Smith and the Rev. Jack Sanders will officiate. Burial will be in the Newtonia I.O.O.F. cemetery under direction of the Shewmake funeral home of Granby.
*Source: The Joplin Globe, Nov. 27, 1963, Joplin, Missouri
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Pricilla Elizabeth Hardy / Hersey was born in Green County, Kentucky. The family moved to Missouri when she was about 12 years old. Her father died a few years later. She married Benjamin K. Hersey on March 28, 1897 and together they raised their family on a farm outside of Ritchey, Newton County, Missouri. Many times she worked hard, side by side with her husband in the orchards. She also raised a huge vegetable garden and canned much of the produce to feed their large family throughout the winter months. One thing she did say is that she would never have the flower gardens which she enjoyed so much if it wasn't for her son B.K. (Basil). He would plant flowers for her after he came in from working in the fields and orchards all day. She said that Ben didn't see much value in planting something if you couldn't eat it.
Elizabeth, "Lizzy" as she was known by many, was an active and vital member of the Ritchey Baptist Church all of her adult life. She was a Sunday School teacher, helped with the organization of the social events the church put on, etc. When the church doors were open, Elizabeth was likely to be found there, helping in anyway she could. Raised with a strong Southern Baptist background, she truly loved the Lord and had a great burden for the lost. Throughout her life she lead many to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. The church was more than a social gathering for her. The church and her Lord were her life. She truly did lead a life that displayed what Christian character is suppose to be.
In her later years her hobby was piecing together beautiful quilts. She would cut many of the pieces for the quilts out of old cotton dresses and shirts that people would give her and then sew them together using the old treadle sewing machine that was in the dining room. Her sight dimmed to the point that if the thread broke or ran out she would have to wait until someone came to visit so they could thread her machine for her so she could again continue her her labor of love. Much of the work was done almost by feel, yet the end results were always beautiful. Many times she would give her quilts to friends and family members.
She was buried at Newtonia Cemetery, Newtonia, Missouri.
*Source: Personal knowledge, Bennetta Hersey Elliott, her granddaughter
Benjamin K Hersey
(1869 - 1951)
OBITUARY
Ben K. Hersey
Funeral services were held at 1:30 o'clock Friday, November 16 at the Ritchey Baptist Church for Ben K. Hersey, age 82, who passed away at his home in Ritchey, Missouri, Tuesday. Services were conducted by Rev. John V. Philliber and burial was in the Newtonia I.O.O.F. Cemetery, under the direction of Pogue Funeral Home.
Mr. Hersey was a faithful member of Ritchey Baptist Church for fifty years or more and was the eldest deacon of the church at the time of his demise. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Hersey, three daughters, Mrs. Loraine Barbee, Portland, Oregon, Mrs. Ruth Largen and Miss Rhoda Hersey, Kansas City; two sons, Oscar Hersey, Granby, and B.K. Hersey, Jr., Kansas City; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
*Source: Local Newspaper, Neosho, Newton County, Mo. Nov. 17, 1951
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Benjamin K Hersey raised his family on a farm just outside of Ritchey, Newton County, in southwest Missouri. Raising primarily apples, rhubarb & tomatoes and other truck farming crops which were sold in the city market at Kansas City, Missouri and other places. They also raised some cattle. He was an active member of the Ritchey Baptist Church. His daughter Rhoda Hersey stated, "All Papa knew was work and church." Shortly before his death Ben and his wife, Elizabeth, moved to town, into the house beside the Ritchey Baptist Church. After his death, Elizabeth continued to reside there for the remainder of her life. Ben Hersey is buried at IOOF Newtonia Cemetery, Newtonia, Newton County, Missouri.
Source: Personal knowledge of Bennetta Hersey Elliott as related to her by Basil Kermit Hersey, her father and son of the above Ben & Elizabeth Hersey.
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