This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Criss, DePoister, Phillips, Todd, Devine, Schultz, Chamberlain Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ue.2ADI/522 Message Board Post: This obituary was copied from the collection located at the Robinson Public Library. The obituaries themselves are usually not dated. Whoever made the collection has written down the dates by hand. The source of the obituary (i.e. which newspaper) is also usually not included. Transcribed by Barbara Dix. ETHEL D. CRISS, LOCAL NEWS WOMAN DIES THURSDAY. THE PALESTINE REGISTER, PALESTINE, ILLINOIS , SEPT. 13, 1951 Ethel D. Criss who knew more about local people, their families and activities than any other resident of the community, died at 3:30 Thursday afternoon, Sept 6. Death came at the Ikemire Clinic where she was taken recently from her apartment in Hotel Lincoln. It followed protracted illness of which many of her friends knew nothing and which failed to divert her from her duties as a news writer until eventual failing strength forced surrender. Even toward the last Mrs. Criss' interest in people and happenings in and around Palestine was undiminished; and even after unable to write her own copy she managed to have interesting new coming to her ear transmitted to THE PALESTINE REGISTER where she had served as city editor and reporter. Courageously continuing to work despite urgings she retire. Ethel Criss realized a spoken desire to live out her course in full activity. Her final illness, confining her to her apartment and the hospital was of relatively short duration. Mrs. Criss was born December 5th, 1893, in Mulkeytown, Ill., the daughter of T. A. and Sara E. DePoister. She was a half-sister of the late W. E. DePoister, an Illinois Central engineer. W. E. DePoister, Jr. of Centralia, and Mrs. G. Kent Phillips, of Palestine are a nephew and niece. She had no other near relatives at the time of her passing. Surviving, however, is her fast friend and sister-in-law Mrs. Frances DePoister. Her father a merchant in Mulkeytown, died March 28, 1927, and her mother died May 16th, 1925. After her father's death Mrs. Criss came to Palestine. Here on November 18th, 1928 she married the late John M. Criss, who died June 8th, 1943. He was a merchant and she took an active interest in their store. Her newspaper career began in 1927 when Fred E. Todd, deceased, was publisher of the Palestine Register. Mrs. Criss served four succeeding editors of the paper, Mr. Todd, C. M. Phillips, J. E. Devine, and Arthur Schulz. Her quarter-century connection with the Fourth Estate included two years as a reporter on the Robinson Daily News during the second World War. There she substituted for a war inductee, covering assignments taking her to sheriff and police investigations, court hearings, accidents and various other news sources. With this more rounded experience she returned to Palestine after the war and rejoined the staff of the Register. Well and most favorably remembered as a moving spirit in community activities, as a faithful member of the Christian Church and its chior, the passing of Ethel Criss has saddened the hearts of many local people. Funeral services were held at the Christian Church Saturday afternoon under the ministry of the pastor, Rev. Lewis Chamberlain, and burial was at the side of her husband in Palestine cemetery.