Decatur County Journal Leon, Iowa Thursday, April 11, 1912 Miss HELEN KERRINS was born November 24, 1891, at Chatsworth, Illinois. She died at her home near Pleasanton, Iowa, April 7, 1912, at the age of 20 years, 5 months and 13 days. She moved with her parents to Creston in 1906 and at a later period to Decatur County. Miss KERRINS was well known to many Leon people having stayed here for more than a year with her sister who was in school. In early life she developed a talent for music, both vocal and instrumental and was of great help to congregations where she attended church. She taught school in Davis City for a number of months until her health failed. During her lingering illness which lasted for more than a year, she was very patient and never murmured. During the month of January, 1911, she confessed her faith in Christ and was baptized by the writer and became a member of the Christian Church in Leon. She had a beautiful voice and was of great help to us in our chorus work and not infrequently pleased the audiences with her beautiful solos. She was a kind, sweet spirited girl who made many friends. It would seem that she has been called away prematurely, at the age when she had begun to realize what it meant to live; to feel life's responsibility and experience its joys; at an age when the future with all its possibilities and bright prospects were opening up before her. Yet her life has not been lost. She has not lived in vain. Although her life has been short as we measure time, it has not been small. The funeral service was conducted at her father's home near Pleasanton by her pastor Monday afternoon, April 5, at two o'clock, in the presence of a large company of neighbors and friends. She leaves to mourn her early departure, five sisters and three brothers and a loving father and mother. The remains were laid to rest in the Pleasanton Cemetery. -- J.S. Coffin ------------------------------------------------ Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert December 29, 2009 [email protected]