OBIT: Bertha May (GNAGEY) BEACHY, 1946, of interest in Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
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BERTHA MAY BEACHY

  Mrs. Bertha May Beachy, 66, wife of Christian C. Beachy, was found dead in bed 
at her home early Thursday morning, Dec. 12, by Miss Eloise Borror, Home 
Economics teacher in Grantsville High School, who boarded in the Beachy home.  
Her death is attributed to a heart attack.  She apparently had been dead several 
hours when found.
  Mrs. Beachy retired about 11 p.m. Wednesday night, apparently in her usual 
state of health.  She had been ailing, due to a heart condition for 12 years, 
but was able to operate a tourist home.
  Her husband has been a helpless invalid for 15 years.  She patiently nursed 
and cared for him, and at the same time had many interests in the community.
  Mrs. Beachy was a daughter of the late Jonas E. and Elizabeth (Swauger) 
Gnagey, and was born near Grantsville, November 19, 1880.  Her marriage to Mr. 
Beachy took place September 9, 1900, at Cove, Md., with Rev. David Hostetler, 
officiating.
  The couple moved to the Maple Valley Farm near Bittinger, where they lived 
until they moved to Grantsville eight years ago.  The Beachys were well known 
for the fine quality of maple sugar and syrup produced on their farm.
  Mrs. Beachy was a member of the Church of the Brethren at Accident.  She was a 
past president of the Garrett County Council of Homemakers Club and past 
president of the Bittinger and Grantsville Homemakers clubs.  She was also an 
active member of the Grantsville Woman's Club.  She attended the Rural Woman's 
short courses at the University of Maryland for 12 years, and was an active 
member of the Grantsville Lutheran Missionary Society.  
  She was an active Red Cross worker in the Grantsville community, sewing and 
knitting various articles of clothing.  She also held membership in the Garrett 
County Farm Bureau and Southern States Cooperative Auxiliary of Garrett County.
  Mrs. Beachy's death was a shock and loss to the community, as well as to her 
family.  Surviving are five daughters and six sons of her parents' family of 16 
children.
  Surviving are an adopted son, Lt. Frank Beachy of Camp Hood, Texas; two foster 
daughters, Mrs. Clara Mullins of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mrs. Bessie Greathouse 
of Fairmont, W.Va.; five sisters, Mrs. George A. Lininger, Waterloo, Iowa; Mrs. 
R. W. Horne, Broadhead, Wis.; Mrs. Harvey Parsons, Baltimore; Mrs. Olive 
Loechel, Salisbury, Pa.; Mrs. J. U. Stanton, Grantsville,; six brothers, C. 
Edward Gnagey, Washington, Pa.; Harry E. Gnagey, Warren, Pa.; A. Blaine Gnagey, 
Santa Fe, New Mexico; Elmer J. Gnagey, East Orange, N.J.; William E. Gnagey, 
Meyersdale R.D. 1, and Homer Gnagey, Boynton, Pa., also a number of other 
relatives.
  Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon, at 1:30 at the decedents 
home. Officiating ministers were her pastor, Rev. Alonzo P. Fike, of Accident, 
who read appropriate passages of scripture, and funeral liturgy and poems; Rev. 
Arthur Serogum of Cumberland, who offered prayer and scripture reading, and also 
prayer by Rev. A. Jay Replogle.  The Springs Mennonite Male Quartet sang 
"Consolation," Tennyson's "Crossing of the Bar," and "It is Not Death to Die."
  Beautiful floral offerings were expressions of the many friendships she made 
during her life.
  The casket bearers were her nephews, Charles Stanton, Raymond and Casper 
Loechel, Norman, Raymond and Walter Gnagey.  Interment was made in the 
Grantsville cemetery.
  Relatives and friends from a distance attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. 
E. J. Gnagey, East Orange, N.J.; Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Gnagey, Washington, Pa.; 
Harry E. Gnagey, Elmer J. Gnagey, Jr., and Harry J. Gnagey, Jr., Warren, Pa.; 
Mrs. Bruce Millinger, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. Homer C. Gnagey and son, 
Swissvale; Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Doner, Pittsburgh; Mrs. G. A. Lininger, and 
daugher, Mrs. Earl Zearley, and the latter's son, Waterloo, Iowa; Lt. and Mrs. 
Frank Beachy, Camp Hood, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Greathouse, Fairmont, 
W.Va.; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mullins, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Russell Lintner, Mr. and 
Mrs. James McIlwrath, Pittsburgh; Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Gnagey, Meyersdale R.D. 1; 
W. S. Livengood and Mrs. Frances Imler, Meyersdale; Rev. and Mrs. Arthur 
Serogum, Cumberland; Lt. Foster O. Speicher, Ft. Knox, Ky.; Mrs. Nell Zeller, 
Frostburg; Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Parsons and Paul Stanton, Baltimore; Mr. and Mrs. 
Markel Stanton, Cumberland; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gnagey and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest 
Keim, Salisbury, and many other relatives and friends from nearby towns and 
communities.

Meyersdale Republican, December 19, 1946