This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Fortune, Hickman, Finnin Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/7769 Message Board Post: Services Held for Susan Mattingly Mojave people in general were saddened last week to learn of the death of Mrs. Susan Mattingly, a long time proprietor of the Elite Hotel. She and her husband, James P. Mattingly, rebuilt the hotel after a disastrous fire in 1926 consumed the hotel and 13 other buildings in Mojave before being brought under control. Mrs. Mattingly was born in Vernon County, Mo. on December 10, 1876 and married Mr. Mattingly, coming to Mojave in 1924, where they purchased the then Elite Hotel from the former owner. As we stated above, it was destroyed by fire in 1926. Nothing daunted, the couple set to work and from the debris erected the present building which, up to the time of Mr. Mattingly’s death a few years ago, they managed together. She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Charles Fortune of Long Beach, another sister residing in Washington state, a niece, Mrs. Carolyn Hickman of Long Beach, a daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Finnin, her son-in-law Mr. Barney Finnin, Mojave postmaster and nephew, James Finnin. Funeral services were held last Saturday, Dec. 12 from the Community Congregational Church of Mojave, the church she was extremely interested in, being a member of the Ladies Fellowship and other church organizations. Testifying to the esteem in which the lady was held was the over crowded church at the services, which were under the direction of the O’Donnell Funeral Home with the Rev. Stanley H. Addison, pastor, officiant. Interment was in the Mojave Cemetery. Mrs. Mattingly was a member of the Royal Neighbors, Ladies Auxiliary of the Woodmen of the World lodge, with a camp in Lancaster having continued her membership for 50 years. She will be sorely missed by her host of friends. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 17 Dec 1953