This is a Message Board Post. Reply to the message or author by clicking on the link below. *************************************************************************** MESSAGE: (#102253) Mrs. Thos. I. Boots <http://iagenweb.org/boards/clayton/obituaries/index.cgi?rev=102253> AUTHOR: Gary Sheffert DATE: 3/11/2006 at 14:38:45 Surnames: BOOTS,SHEFFERT,SCHEFFERT,ENGSTROM,MOVER,FAY,SMITH,WHITE Oelwein Register--February 15, 1935 MRS. THOS. I. BOOTS OBITUARY Among the most beautiful things in all the world are old people with a sweet spirit. Mother Emma Boots belongs to this fine company of beautiful souls. Her age was made tender and gracious, strong and happily ?? by the masterful working of a beautiful ?? in her mind and heart. In the ?? her death was the end of a good life, in the truest sense it is the beginning of a life for which she has been in prepartion all these many years of her sojurn upon earth. Mother Boots was born in Clayton County, at Giard, Iowa. Her maiden name was Emma H. Sheffert. She was born on the 4th day of June, 1859. She grew to womanhood in the same vicinity where she was born. In the fall of 1878 she was united in marriage to Thos. I. Boots. They started their home-building efforts at Elkader, Iowa. The have also been residents of Clermont, Stanley and Oelwein, most of the life time having been spent at Stanley. Since 1930 they have had their home at Oelwein with their daughters Mrs. Henry Fay and Mrs. Fred White. They are among the elect few in the family of humanity who were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, which anniversary took place in September 1928. Mrs Emma H. Boots became a member of the Church in the days of her youth. The past fifty-six years she has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The enduring memoral of Mrs. Boots is the beauty of her home life. Here she manifested what true mother love can accomplilsh. Loyalty, devotion, unselfishness, companionship, around these enduring qualities her life was centered. She was always appreciative and sincerely sympathetic and courteous. She will be remembered by those who knew her best because of the service and companionship of her home life. She built for herself a memory monument in her home influence that shall abide as an incentive for the better things of life, in the memories of her loved ones, her neighbors and her friends. Her earthly pilgrimage came to a close with a spirit of triumph on the evening of Lincoln's birthday, 1935 having reached the age of seventy-five years, eight months and eight days. She is being survived by her children: Mrs J.P. Smith, of Leon, Iowa, Mrs. Fred White and Lewis Boots, of Oelwein; Mrs R. White of Thorpe, Iowa, Mrs Henry Fay of Independence, Iowa, Warren Boots, of Lilly Lake, Lester Boots and Mrs A.N. Engstrom, of Oelwein. Her husband preceded her in death, August 31,1932, also her son Fred Boots, who died in the Aviation Service August 29, 1928; and also her son Victor who died in infancy. She is also being survived by her step-children: C.V. Boots of Oelwein, Mrs L.A. ?? of Fayette, Iowa and Matthew E. Boots, of Anamosa, Iowa, as well as one sister, Mrs. J.C. Abel, of Dubuque, Iowa and three brothers: Ed Sheffert, of Monona, Iowa, and Lewis Sheffert and Barney Sheffert, of Lincoln, Nebraska; and thirteen granchildren, and many other relatives and friends. The funeral services were held from the Grace Methodist Elpiscopal Church, Rev J.B. Ackman being in charge of the services. Mr and Mrs. G.H. Gerrall sang: "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Sometime We'll Understand", with Miss Evelyn Belt at the organ. Those who served as pall bearers were: W.M. Morris, C.H. Blethins, T.V. Stevens. W.A. Stevens, Geo. Hill and Frank Rathben. Her burial was at the Woodlawn cemetery, of Oelwein.