Everett Bird

It is seldom that a communtiy or one family is called upon to mourn the loss of three in so short a time. The community was saddened last Sunday evening by hearing of the death of Ray and little Nellie Bird. Arrangements were made  to lay the little brother and sister away in the Knowlton Cemetery Tuesday afternoon when on that morning between nine and ten o’clock Evertt als passed away and three were laid to rest at the same time.

Ray Bird was born near Tingley, Iowa, May 3, 1908, and departed this life January 8, 1919, aged 10 years, 8 months and two days. Ray had been sick just a week, but from the first there was no hope for him as his sickness soon developed into pneumonia and he was unconscious most of the time, yet he seemed to realize that he could not live as he told his folks several times that he was going home. He was loved and admired by all his relatives, friends and schoolmates.  He had a cheery smile for all whom he met and his bright face will be sadly missed.  He died Sunday at 6:10 p.m. and little Nellie died about eleven the same evening. She was born near Diagonal, Iowa, June 29, 1915, being three years, 6 months and six days old when she died. She was the youngest child in the family and was a patient sufferer. Another little flower has blossomed but to be called to the eternal home.

As was stated Everett, who would have been six years old on March 22, died about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. He clung tenaciously to life, but he too was called to follow his brother and sister.

The entire family had been taken sick Sunday evening, December 29th and some were dangerously sick from the first. The father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bird; two brothers, John and Otto; and a sister, Sadie; none of them were able to attend the short services at the graves which were conducted by Rev. Robert W. Swick, pastor of the Diagonal M.E. Church. Besides the immediate family, there are the aged grandparents and a host of other relatives and friends.