OBITUARY

Name:   Emma A. (Anderson) Harper

From:  The Times-Leader, McLeansboro, Illinois
Date:  January 29, 1931

Emma Harper, daughter of Wilburn and Winifred Anderson, was born May 1, 1874, and departed this life January 20, 1931, aged 55 years, 8 months and 20 days.

She was united in marriage with Oscar P. Harper on November 30, 1895, with whom she lived happily until death separated them.  To this union five children were born, namely: William A., Earnest A., Joe Donald, Dorothy May and Oscar Eugene, all of whom survive her.

She professed faith in Christ at the age of fourteen, and united with Ten Mile Baptist Church, where she retained her membership until 1929, when she moved her membership to the First Baptist Church of McLeansboro, Ill., where she remained a faithful member until death.

Mrs. Harper lived to realize the greatest desire of her heart, which was, that she might see everyone of her children embrace Christ as their personal Savior and unite with his church.  She possessed a lovable disposition and a Christian character which was very much in evidence in her home life, which was very happy indeed.  Her chief joy and delight was to minister to the needs of her family.  This love and affection was reciprocated to a remarkable degree by her husband and children.

By charity she showed to others, and by her quiet and unassuming manner she was able to number her friends by her acquaintances.  

She had been in failing health for some time, but she bore her suffering very patiently and cheerfully.  All that loving hands and medical skill could do was of no avail.  The reaper had come and none could hinder, and at 8 o'clock a.m. January 20th she heard the bells of heaven ringing and so expressed it to her companion, and very quietly and peacefully her spirit slipped out and away from its earthly tabernacle and entered into that building of God, the house not made with hands eternal, in the heavens.  There she is basking in the sunshine of God's love and enjoying a happy reunion with her dear father and mother and two brothers who have gone on before.

But she has left the gate of Heaven ajar, and is there awaiting the arrival of her dear husband and children, brothers and sisters and friends.  There she is able to realize that death is swallowed up in victory and can truly say, "O death where is they sting: O grave where is they victory?"

Emma, as we who were near to her, always called her, was a virtuous woman.  The heart of her husband did safely trust in her, for she did him good and not evil all the days of her life.  Her tongue was the law of kindness.  Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also he praiseth her.  While we mourn our loss, we do not weep as those who have no hope, for we realize that our loss is her eternal gain.

She leaves to mourn their loss, besides the above named husband and children, three brothers and three sisters (are namely: George Anderson of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Emery of Dixon, Joseph of McLeansboro, Mrs. John Webb, Mrs. Robert Jones and Mrs. Robert Harper, all of McLeansboro.  She is interred at Ten Mile Cemetery.