OBITUARIES

OBITUARY OF GEORGE ERNEST MCKERCHER

George Ernest McKercher, 85, a Seattle pioneer who was in Alaska in the Gold Rush Days, died Friday at this home. 8807 15th Avenue N. E.

He was born in Sidney, Ohio, and came to Seattle in 1888. He mined for gold beyond the Chilkoot Pass and remained in the Alaska interior seven years before returning to Seattle. Then he worked for the U. S. Postal Service until he reached retirement age in 1940. After that, he and his wife traveled by automobile to every state in the Union except Oklahoma, and as far north as Montreal and south as far as Cuba and Mexico. In addition, they made trips to Whitehorse, Lake Bennett and Skagway.

During World War II he worked at Boeing Airplane Co. for a time. He also volunteered as a member of the Washington National Guard for five years. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of Eureka Lodge No. 20, F&AM; Scottish Rite Bodies; Nile Temple Shrine; University Chapter No. 83, OES, and the National Association of Retired Civil Employees.

Survivors: Wife, Pearl Boddy McKercher; three nephews whom Mr. McKercher reared, Bernard O. Boddy, Seattle; Loren C. Boddy, Brazil, and John R. Boddy, Diablo, Whatcom County; three other nephews, Marshall C. Boddy, Seattle; Dr. Thomas A. Ware, Sioux City, Iowa, and Floyd Ware, Des Moines, Iowa, and one niece, Mrs. James Brannon, Pasadena, Texas.

DEATH NOTICE FOR HATTIE FLORENCE MCKERCHER

OBITUARY OF HELEN LUCILLE MCKERCHER

Helen L. McKercher, 90, 325 S. Segrave Avenue, a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, died Thursday at Halifax Hospital.

Born in Flint, Michigan, Miss McKercher came here in 1954 from Toledo, Ohio.

DEATH NOTICE FOR JAMES MCKERCHER

MCKERCHER - - At 4705 7th Avenue N. E., February 15, 1927. JAMES MCKERCHER, aged 87 years, husband of Lida Root McKercher, father of Clark McKercher of New York City and George E. McKercher of Seattle.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday, at the University Funeral Parlors.

OBITUARY OF JOHN F. MCKERCHER

John F. McKercher of Moscow, died last Friday at the home of his son, William. He was buried Monday, the services conducted by Rev. F. Gutelius of Moscow and Rev. Charles Gilmore of York.

OBITUARY OF JOHN MCKERCHER, JR.

In Leicester, Oct. 17, 1882, Mr. John McKercher, aged 92 years and 5 months died. This aged and good man was born in Broadalbin, Montgomery County, N. Y., in April of 1790. He was married to Margaret McMartin, March 28th, 1811. In the following spring, 1812, he moved from his native place to this county in the town of York, soon afterward uniting with the Associate Reformed Church now called the U.P. Church of Caledonia. Here he and his wife continued their membership, often walking with their children even in inclement weather and bad roads, 9 miles or more, that they might be regularly in the sanctuary, until the church of the same denomination was organized in York, when they connected with that body.

In the spring of 1850 he sold his farm in York, which he had by faithful industry cleared of timber and put in a state of cultivation, and moved into the town of Leicester. Here he joined the United Presbyterian Church of Cuylerville of which body he was chosen as ruling elder which he retained during life. His wife dying in 1861 he soon afterward divided his estate among his children and during the remainder of his life with his son, Mr. John F. McKercher.

OBITUARY OF JOHN MCKERCHER

John McKercher, age 68 years and for sixty years a resident of Genesee County, died yesterday afternoon at his home, 528 McCreeny Street. Mr. McKercher had been in poor health for some time past, and four weeks ago his condition became such as to occasion grave concern. Complicated Bright's disease is stated as the cause of death.

In company with his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Daniel McKercher, Mr. McKercher, came to Michigan from Livingston County, N.Y., where he was born, when but eight years of age. His parents settled on 160 acres of land, taken over from the government.

A fine farm was developed, and the broad acres, about four miles southwest of the city, on Miller Road, became known as some of the best and most fertile farm lands in this section of the state.

The early days of John McKercher were spent for the most part much the same as that of the average American boy of those times, with the possible exception of the fact that he was given the best education it was possible to secure at that early date. Soon after graduation he apprenticed himself as a carpenter and joiner in which line of activity he was employed for a number of years.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. McKercher enlisted in Company B, Flint, Michigan Engineers, and was assigned to the army of the Cumberland. He was afterwards, however, transferred to the Army of the Tennessee. He took active and always valiant part in the battles in which his regiment was engaged. He served for three years, and was discharged with military honors.

Returning from the front, Mr. McKercher resumed the work of carpentering and later accepted a position in the carpenter department of the Michigan School for the Deaf. He remained there for one year. In 1883 he went to New Lothrop, where he opened a general merchandise store. Subsequently he returned to Flint, where he engaged in the same business. At the end of another two years he was elected city treasurer. This was Mr. McKercher's second political experience, he having been selected supervisor of his ward for two years previously. Five years ago he was elected city assessor.

The death of Mr. McKercher removes a man who counted his friends in all stations in life. He was a member of the Genesee Valley Commandery, No 15, Knights Templars; past master of Flint Lodge, No. 23, F. & A. , for six terms, from 1889 to 1895; high priest of Washington Chapter, No. 15; R. A. M. and trice illustrious master of Flint Council, No. 56, R. & S. M.

Besides his widow he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Grace I. Taylor of this city. Mrs. McKercher was formerly Miss Matilda E. Aitken, daughter of Hon. & Mrs. R. P. Aitken. Besides his wife and daughter, the deceased is survived by brothers and sisters as follows: Finley McKercher and Mrs. Susan Brookins of Portland, Oregon; William M. McKercher and Mrs. Jennie Gilbert of Sioux City, Iowa; and a half brother, Daniel Mckercher, formerly of this city, now of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The funeral service will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence and will be conducted by Rev. W. Dudley Powers, rector of St. Paul's Church, of which the deceased was a member. The service will be under Masonic auspices, and interment will be made at Glenwood Cemetery. (The Flint Journal, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan - December 7, 1908)

With the members of Genesee Valley Commandery No. 15, Knights Templar, acting as an escort to Flint Lodge No. 23, F. & A. M., under whose auspices the services at the grave were held, the body of John McKercher was laid to rest yesterday afternoon in the family burying lot in Glenwood Cemetery. The pall bearers were Sir Knights J. H. Crawford, C. H. Miller, Menzo F. Cook, C. S. H. Chase, Albert Austin and William Edgecomb.

At the residence the service was conducted by Rev. W. Dudley Powers, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The attendance was large and the floral tributes, among which were several pieces from the Masonic orders of which the deceased was a member, were many and rarely beautiful.

Besides the wife and daughter, Mrs. Grace I. Taylor, Mr. McKercher is survived by brothers and sisters as follows: Finley McKercher and Mrs. Susan Brookins of Portland, Oregon; W. M. McKercher and Mrs. Jennie Gilbert of Sioux City, Iowa; Mrs. Minnie Freeman, of Lansing, Michigan; and a half-brother, Daniel Mckercher, of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

OBITUARY FOR M. ETHILIND STARR MCKERCHER

Mrs. William Mckercher died at her home in West Perry on October 15th, of organic heart disease, aged 61 years. She is survived by her husband and a brother, Arthur Starr of Leicester.

OBITUARY OF MARGARET MCKENZIE MCKERCHER

OBITUARY OF MARY EVA WILSON MCKERCHER

Mrs. William M. McKercher, wife of a well known insurance man here, died Friday, March 8, 1940, in her home, 2325 Douglas Street in this city, following a brief illness, she was 84 years old.

Born Mary Eva Wilson, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Stewart Wilson, May 30, 1855, at Zanesville, Muskigum County, Ohio. Mrs. McKercher came here in 1874. She joined the First Baptist church in 1875. She was married to W.M. McKercher November 9, 1876, by Rev. E. A. Avery, the pastor of the First Presbyterian church.

Surviving are the widower; a son, Donald of Sioux City; Stewart Mallory and Miss Dorothy McKercher, grandchildren living here and six grandchildren in Havana, Cuba.

OBITUARY OF MATILDA ELLEN AITKEN MCKERCHER

Mrs. Matilda E. McKercher, 84 years old, widow of the late John McKercher, and eldest daughter of Robert P. and Sarah J. Aitken, pioneer citizens of Flint, died at 5:30 this morning at her home, 727 Clifford Street. Mrs. McKercher was a member and active worker for many years of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and a member and past worthy matron of Flint Chapter No. 138 O. E. S. She was a resident of Flint virtually all her life.

Matilda E. Aitken was born in the old Aitken homestead in flint Twp., Dec. 21. 1845. She was married to John McKercher, June 11, 1867. Mr. McKercher died December 6, 1908.

Mrs. McKercher leaves one daughter, Mrs. Reinhard Kleinpell, and one brother, D. D. Aitken of Flint, and two sisters, Anna and S. Jennie Aitken at home. Her death removes one of the few remaining pioneers of the city.

OBITUARY OF NETTIE ENGLAND MCKERCHER

OBITUARY OF PEARL M. BODDY MCKERCHER

OBITUARY OF WILLIAM MARTIN MCKERCHER

William M. McKercher, prominent man, 86, 2325 Douglas Street, special agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, died at his home Thursday night, following an illness of two weeks.

Mr. McKercher, who came here in March 1873, completed 54 years with the company April 7. He had been general agent for many years. He was born at Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, June 7, 1855.

When he first came here he worked for a grocery store and for the Biddle Hardware Company, form 1881 to 1888, before beginning work with the insurance company.

The deceased was a member of the First Baptist church and of several Masonic organizations, including Landmark lodge, A.F. & A.M.; Columbian commandery, K.T., and Sioux City consistory.

He married Miss Mary Eva Wilson November 9, 1876, Mrs. McKercher died two years ago. Surviving are one son, Donald E. McKercher of Sioux City; two grandchildren, Stewart Mallory of Sioux City and Dorothy McKercher Townsend of San Francisco, and one great-grandchild; Judy Ann Mallory of Sioux City, Six other grandchildren in Cuba also survive.