Individual Details

Death

From Nevada Journal, Friday, May 24, 1946
Last Rites for Mrs. Mary Alderman Thursday Afternoon
Services for Mrs. Mary Alice Alderman, former resident of Nevada, were held at the Adams Chapel in Ames on Thursday afternoon with Rev. W. B. Tarr of the Nevada Evangelical church and by Rev. C. E. Lookingbill, officiating at the last rites.
Burial was in the Ames cemetery.
"In the Garden" and "Peace Be Still," were sung during the service. The pall bearers were relatives: Orris Finch, Arthur Bogue, James Wood and Lloyd Rouze.
The following obituary was read at the funeral service:
Mary Alice Gates was born on Dec. 23, 1875, at Colo, Iowa, the child of N. P. and Marillea Gates. She passed to her eternal rest on May 20, 1946 in Ames, at the age of 70 years, 4 months and 27 days.
Mary Gates grew to womanhood in the Colo and Zearing communities. She was united in marriage to Mr. James Wood of Chicago on November 10, 1900. Mr. Wood was a widower with three small children. Mrs. Mary Gates Wood mothered these children as her own and their love and devotion to her became as natural as though she were their own mother. Mr. Wood died on Feb. 16, 1917 in Chicago.
After the death of Mr. Wood, she came back to Iowa and located at Gifford where her mother lived. Here, she operated a tearoom later moving with her business to Eldora. Her sister, Mrs. Sadie Frosell was with her in business and has been a loyal companion these many years.
On Sept. 18, 1924, she was united in marriage to Mr. Silas P. Alderman of Nevada. The ceremony was performed in Chicago. They lived in Nevada until the death of Mr. Alderman on December 18, 1930. Mrs. Mary Gates Alderman lived in Nevada until January of 1944 when she moved to Ames at 915 Duff st., where she owned and operated an apartment house.
Mrs. Alderman was a member of the family of God by her own choice. She was convereted early in life and remained faithful through the years. Her Bible has many notations, some of which are these words: "Life is associated with grief, you must first love before you can grieve." "Faith is the dependence on the veracity of another." "Faith if it have not works is dead." "Religion is the best armor in the world, but the worst cloak."
Those of the family who survive her are her sister, Mrs. Sadie Frosell of Ames, her brother, Fred W. Gates of Marshalltown, several step-grandchildren, who delighted to call her "grandmother," several nephews and nieces. Besides these relatives, there are many friends and neighbors who will miss her in the affairs of life.