found in grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Obituary Parsons- As it must to all men, death came to James Harvey Parsons in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 7, at his home in Lewis Station. Always a man of great activity and strength the past year of illness, due to a weakening heart, had tried him sorely. But he bore his sufferings in quiet patience, anxious to keep his family from too much worry, and always ready for a joke or laughter, as he was blessed with a keen sense of humor. To know him was to respect him and value his friendship and his friends were numbered by his acquaintances. He was a good, kind and considerate man, whose first thought was for the happiness, comfort and welfare of others. James Harvey Parsons, son of Franklin J. and Eliza Atha Parsons was near Leon, in Decatur county, Iowa, August 17, 1875 and departed this life July 7, 1945. His entire life was spent in his native state with the exception of the past eight months, moving to his present home last October. Fully realizing his serious physical condition, he sold his modern prosperous Iowa farm and moved to Lewis that his wife might be with her own people when his passing came. He was a member of the Christian Union church of Pleasanton, Iowa, and had been a member of the Masonic Order of over 40 years. Having spent 44 years in the employment of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, he was retired in 1938. He leaves to mourn his passing his devoted wife: one son, James Donald, now serving his country in Italy, and a daughter-in-law Mildred in Chicago: one brother, Rev. C. A. Parson of Waterloo, Iowa and many other relatives, also a large host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and four sisters. He was married to Miss Grace E. Beard of Clinton, Mo., on September 16, 1899, and she passed away in Iowa in 1919. He was married to Miss Mary E. Horrell of the Mt. Marbel neighborhood June 2, 1924. Funeral services were held at the Consalus-Peck Funeral Home Monday, July 9, at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. R. T. B. Leavell. "Abide with Me" and "The Beautiful Garden of Prayer" were sung by Mesdames Parker and Simmons, with Miss Audrey Parker at the piano. He was buried in Hopeville cemetery. His pall bearers were: Lewis Schneider, Paul Mitchell, austin Hager, Tom Gill, George Chapman and Fred Dalton. The following verse was one of the favorites of James and Mary Parson: "One of us, darling it must be, It may be you will slip from me, or perhaps my life may first be done; I'm glad we do not know which one." --Clinton Missouri Eye.