Mrs. Edith Easley, A Pioneer, is dead. The cheerful little woman has passed to the great beyond and her remains lie buried in the modest Houston Cemetery, where a son and daughter and loving friends have heaped high a garland of flowers and paused to shed a tear and pay their last loving respects to the mother and friend. (Unable to read next paragraph printed in the Mackay Miner). Double click to enlarge.
Mrs. Edith Dening Easley was born at Homer, Michigan, December 13th, 1845, and when a little girl of tender age she suffered the loss of her mother. In 1864 she came west with her father landing in Boise, Idaho, during the gold excitement. In 1866 she was married to John G. Easley at Boise, to which union there was born two children, a son and a daughter. After her marriage and subsequent to her residence on Lost River, which began in 1894, she had lived in every state in the Rocky mountain district, her husband being a mining man, and traveling much, she endured the hardships and ups and downs of mining camp life and with her woman's hand assisted the comparatively few other women of those early day in spreading a civilization over a rough and rugged frontier mining camp life. In 1881 she settled on Wood River with her husband where she lived until 1894, when they removed to Houston, where death removed from her side her husband, who was buried in the Houston Cemetery ten years ago last December. After the death of Mr. Easley, Mrs. Easley was appointed postmistress of Houston and later the office was move to Mackay and she continued to preside. In this capacity she became acquainted with everyone in the valley and her cheerful and accommodating dispostion made all acquaintances, friends. After a long illness in the winter of 1903 she resigned from the office and lived alone in her comfortable cottage in this city (Mackay), her son and daughter having grown and gone out into the world, but she visited frequently with them and it was on one of these visits that she was taken ill, about four weeks ago, with pneumonia. After suffering for over two weeks, death gently pressed the lids of the tired eyes and stilled the pulse that had thrilled to many western ventures and experiences, and on Thursday, May 25th, the earthly career was ended. The remains were quietly lowered in the grave by the side of her husband on Sunday, May 28th., when the country side stood by and grieved for their departed friend.
Hers was life well spent and enriched by the cultivation of friends and the love of relatives andd neighbors, filled to the brim with kindness and consideration for others; enduring suffering, rejoicing, all in the same gentle way and the thought came as the remains were consigned to the last resting place that they son and daughter and many friends could be consoled even in death by a review of her beautiful, christian life.
Along with the announcement of her death came the news that it was her desire to be buried here on Lost River among the countless friends with whom she had associated for years and the Woman's Club of Mackay, of which the deceased was the first president, immediately made arrangements for the reception and interment of the remains of their member and friend, and on Saturday when the remains, accompanied by their bereft daughter and son, arrived, a large crowd gathered at the depot to receive them and as the procession made its way to the cottage of the deceased, the walks were lined with people.
On Sunday afternoon at 1:30 the Methodist Church was opened for the funeral service and the remains were laid before the altar during the touching and eloquent address delivered by the pastor, Rev. Hartshorn, after which they were taken to the Houston Cemetery for interment. The funeral was one of the largest ever taking place on Lost River and more than fifty carriages of people followed to the cemetery where short services were also held. Edith's grave is unmarked.
To get to Houston Cemetery, take Highway 93 south of Mackay to Houston Road and follow the sign.
To get to Houston Cemetery, take Highway 93 south of Mackay to Houston Road and follow the sign.
Edith Evelyn Easley was the Postmaster in Houston, Idaho and then selected as Postmaster in Mackay, Idaho in 1902.
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