HOQUIAM, WA. August 8, 1923---Mrs. Emma Girard, one of Grays Harbor's oldest residents, died at 5 o'clock this morning at her home at 410 Monroe Street. Her death was due to old age, Mrs. Girard having been in her eightieth year. The body was removed to Pinnick parlors. Funeral arrangements are awaiting arrival of her son, John Girard, from the Eagle's convention in Denver, who has been summoned home.
Mrs. Girard, known in Hoquiam as "Mother" Girard, has resided here since 1884, and is thought to have the oldest pioneer resident of Hoquiam. She was born April 2, 1844 at Berkach, Duchy Sax Meiningen, Germany and came to New York as an immigrant in her ninth year. In her early twenties she came from New York around Cape Horn to Seattle on a sailing vessel, determined to make her home in the West. In Seattle, she met and married Peter Girard and in 1884 they came to Hoquiam for permanent residence. Mrs. Girard has lived in Hoquiam ever since. She is well known and loved in Hoquiam, her charities and kindness in nursing the sick and caring for the poor earned her the loving name of "Mother" to all that knew her.
Mrs. Girard was the last surviving Hoquiam charter member of the Alpine Rebekah lodge and was also a member of the woman's Relief Corps, an auxilliary of the G.A.R. She is survived by three sons, John G. and Stephen A., of Hoquiam, Alexander C. of Seattle, and one daughter, Mrs. Mina Parker of Hoquiam, and 12 grandchildren.
Note: The child in the picture is John Gerald Girard, her grandson.