Mrs. C. L. Frazier Passed Away Saturday Morning
Prominent in Civic Affairs of Athol and Community
A wave of sorrow swept over Athol Saturday when it was learned that death had claimed Mrs. Clarence L. Frazier, for many years a resident of that community and who had lived all her life in Smith County. A stroke that she suffered Tuesday morning proved fatal a few days later, although for a time she seemed greatly improved. Her five children, the three sons who reside at a distance and the two daughters who are studnets at K. U. came as soon as they were notified that the end was near. Mrs. Frazier was widely known and her pleasant smile and kindly ways will long be remembered by her friends.
A great concourse of neighbors and acquaintances gathered at the Congregational church in Athol Monday afternoon, March 6, for the last rites and to share in the grief of the bereaved family. The pastor, Rev. C. G. Nelson, conducted the funeral services and took for the text of his farewell sermon, John 17: 3. A quartet, Mrs. Wallace Larson, Mrs. Ralph Marshall, Fred Wee(?) and J. G. Albright, sang the hymns and also Mrs. Frazier's favorite song, "Home On The Range" in which is mentioned the banks of Beaver creek near her birthplace. [illegible] was the piano [illegible] pallbearers were the three sons of the deceased Glenn, Loyal and Bernard Frazier, and [illegible] nephews, Ivan Phetteplace, Cecil Colby and Russell Frazier.
Interment was made in Pleasant View cemetery.
James Oris Phetteplace and his young wife, born Eliza Moore, had established a new home. It was a pioneer home, a sod house on a hill[illegible] west of Beaver Creek in the Corvallis community southwest of Smith Center, Kansas. Into that home on July 17, 1876 the age-old mystery of birth brought the fourth child, a little daughter who was named Isa Alma Lodeska. As that little child grew, she saw the passage of defeated Indian warriors, the increasing number of settlers, planting of groves and orchards, the building of more commodious houses; and the procession of the years was to her a romantic and exciting pageant. In her pageant of memory one scene would show her as an eager young pupil in the Corvallis school with an idealist's dream of some day making her name great. Another would bear date of September 21, 1898, when, under the interlacing canopy of native boxelder which her father planted, Rev. W H. Merrill performed the ceremony which united her life with that of Clarence Levi Frazier, and they together knew the joy and toil of establishing their new home on a farm near Athol. Their life together was an inspiration to all who observed.
"In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path, was inspired advice which furnished a fundamental principle of her life. In harmony with it, on Dec. 18, 1898, by transferring membership from the United Brethren church at Corvallis, she became a member of the Congregational church of Athol. For 40 years since, she has been a sincere and joyous contributor of time, toil, talent and support to it. Almost constantly, she has been a teacher or an officer in the Sunday School, and an officer in the church itself or its women's organization.
Even as a bride she visioned an ideal world for children's development, and, thrilled by the thought of motherhood organized for the protection of youth, she joined the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Just recently she was made a Life Budget Member in recognition of the forty years of membership; her latest offices were secretary of the local Union and vice-president of the county Union. When she joined an organization she never became a mere spectator, nor just another name on the membership list, but was ever a zestful partaker in solving its problems and directing its policies. In 1928 the Athol Literature club was organized and federated. She became one of its charter members, and in January was re-appointed art chairman.
When the Smith County Council of Women was organized a year ago, she was elected and served as its first treasurer. In January this year she was selected as its secretary.
The interests of this rich and glowing personality sped the days away; each day too short, each hour too full, but not too short for kindness, nor too full for love.
On February 28, 1939, the delicate body, often sustained more by the ardent spirit than by physical strength, suddenly halted in its unselfish service, and five days later, on March 4, quietly, peacefully "the golden cord" was loosed. She cannot speak to us the ecstasy of being unbound spirit, but the day of our own "great adventure" comes surely and we then may also understand.
Desolate in their sense of treasure lost are husband and children. Glenn Chester Frazier, a supervisor of physical education in the public school system of Kansas City, Mo; Loyal Oris Frazier, a sculptor associated with the Midway Studios, Chicago, Ill; Bernard Emerson Frazer, a sculptor sponsored by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation and working in studios at the University of Kansas; Vergie Joy Frazier, a senior in the department of design University of Kansas, and Marjorie Loretta Frazier, a senior in the department of bacteriology University of Kansas. There are two young grandchildren, Glenn Junior and Sharon Lodeska Frazier.
Only one brother, W. J. Phetteplace of Smith Center survives from the Phetteplace family. Nieves, nephews and more distant relatives grieve with the nearest and dearest.
The orchards that the pioneer fathers planted in Smith County are gone; the groves and shade trees, vanishing; the generation of the pioneer children is already passing into the sunset, and new generations are challenged by the task of restoration. The goals of conquest, of attainment change, but the roads lead on.
Athol community, like the Frazier family, feels bereft of a dynamic force. Forty years of life, and love, and service in one community! The words by which we seek to express appreciation of the high character, pure ideals and tender influence of this fine and noble person, are empty and weak, but when every hearer fills in their bleak outlines with precious memories, memories of the word fitly spoken, the gentleness shown, the troubles solved, the laughter shared, the courage inspired, then drab words become iridescent, and beautiful as sunshine upon falling snow.
The joyous sense of fulfilled aspiration was hers through her children's accomplishment and the titles of honor sweetest to her ears were hers: cherished wife, inspiring mother, and beloved neighbor.
Life's busy day is done
And I may rest
Till, thrilled by dawn
Of Heaven's joys begun,
I waken, blest.
CARD OF THANKS -- We are very grateful to each and everyone who by their loving and thoughtful deeds helped us in the time of our sorrow. We wish to extend our most sincere thanks to our friends and neighbors for their assistance and expressions of sympathy; also for the many beautiful floral offerings.
--C. L. Frazier and family, Mrs. and Mrs. W. J. Phetteplace.
Source unknown, probably Smith County Pioneer, 1939.