The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., July 30, 1925, page 3
"Local Happenings"
Mrs. Margaret Flannery, wife of William Flannery, died on Monday of this week, at her home, after an illness of some duration. She was born at Brooklyn, N.Y., and was 80 years of age at the time of her death. Her father came from Ireland to Brooklyn about 100 years ago, where he ran a blacksmith shop. Besides her husband, she leaves a daughter, Mrs. Kate Coffy, of Newcastle, Wyoming, a son, John Burns, of Tacoma; and a sister in Illinois. The funeral was held this forenoon, from the Catholic church. An obituary will be published in the next issue.
The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., August 6, 1925, page 8
OBITUARY
Mrs. William Flannery, familiarly known to her large
circle of friends and acquaintances as Margaret, who died July 27th, was
born in Brooklyn, New York, 86 years ago, the daughter of John Downey and
Ellen Toomey, natives of Ireland, who were forced to leave their beloved
country nearly a century ago through the intolerable conditions imposed by
the English landlords, then dominating the land.
John Downey continued in the foundry and blacksmithing
business in the then growing city of Brooklyn, New York where, with his sons
and employees he developed an output of considerable proportions for the
times. He died at the age of 60 years, evidently when Margaret was quite
young.
Margaret was 16 when she married Owen burns. The young
couple did not, evidently, hesitate long in the decision to seek fortune
in the West, and the trying times preceding and following the Civil war find
them located in Des Moines, Iowa. The lure of the Far West, however, put
aside for 18 years, finally prevailed and in 1873 they joined the little
group which was developing the White River Valley, near the future great
metropolis of the Northwest, Seattle.
Owen Burns died in 1887, and after five years she married
William Flannery and came to Klickitat county where they resided on his wheat
ranch.
To one accustomed to dwell in or about large cities this
was, no doubt, a period of trial, as the hardships of country life were not
alleviated as they are in these days of a better roads, motor travel and
conveniences which are now considered as a matter of course. But she possessed
that undaunted spirit which ever animated those sterling women who did their
share in the upbuilding of the West, and accomplished her humble tasks
persistently and well.
They sold the ranch and retired to Goldendale during
the Great War.
She leaves behind her a memory which will ever be a cherished
by those who knew her intimately - little acts of kindness unknown to the
many, unwavering devotion to religion. There was nothing of the Pharisee
in Margaret Flannery - her life was an open book.
Feeling that the hour of her departure from earth was
at hand, as a true Christian, she tested in the forgiveness of those
transgressions to which we are all prone, hoping for the blessedness of the
world to come.
Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs.
Kate Coffey, of Newcastle, Wyoming, a son, John Burns, residing near Olympia,
this state, and a sister in Illinois.
Her mother died in 1899 at an advanced age.
The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., July 31, 1925, page 1
PASSING AWAY OF MARGARET FLANNERY
Mrs. Margaret Flannery, wife of William Flannery, died
at her home in Goldendale on the morning of July 27, 1925, aged 86 years.
The funeral services were held from the Catholic church by Rev. T.A. Edwards,
officiating.
Margaret Downey was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., her parents
having come from Ireland about 100 years ago. She is survived by her husband,
a son in Tacoma, and a daughter in Wyoming, also a sister in Illinois.
A more extended obituary will appear next week.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer