Clark County Clipper, March 29, 1928


 
ROSE MAY MUSICK
 

Rose May Musick was born April 26, 1889, near Howard, Kansas.  She was one of the six children of James W. and Nancy Jeanette Musick.  In 1903, the family left the farm to make their home in this city and have ever since lived in Howard.

Miss Musick graduated from the Howard High School with the class of 1908, and afterward attended the State Teachers College at Emporia, graduating with a life certificate.  She then engaged in teaching, first in the rural schools and then in the Howard grade schools, in which she was serving her eleventh year when taken with her fatal illness.  Her work in the primary grade, and as a teacher and instructor of little children, has never been surpassed and probably never equaled in the history of the Howard grade schools.  She always had the confidence, respect and approval of the Board of Education, the faculty of the schools her comrade teachers, the parent patrons of the schools and the entire community; and the little students who took instructions from her and passed through her rooms bore for her an affection and trust almost amounting to adoration.

In the social, civic and club life of the town and community, Miss Musick was active, helpful and congenial.  She early identified herself with the church, and was for more than eighteen years a faithful member of the Howard Presbyterian church and Sunday school, cheerfully serving as substitute teacher in the Sunday school whenever called upon.  She was a member of Columbia Chapter No. 142, Order of the Eastern Star, taking great interest in that organization, serving two terms as Worthy Matron.  While attending college she won membership in Pi Kappa Sigma, a national scholarship sorority.

In her devotion to her parents, her sisters and her home, she was supremely unselfish, patient and faithful, persistently putting aside any opportunity for personal advancement, so long as she was needed at home by her aging and invalid parents.

Through the three weeks of her illness and suffering, she was patient and cheerful, though at times suffering much pain.  She retained her mental faculties to the last, finally failing asleep early in the afternoon of Friday, March 16th, in her last conscious moments assuring the loved ones around her that "It is all right."

She is survived by her aged father, J. W. Musick of this city; two sisters; Mrs. Clara Robinson of Panhandle, Texas; Miss Jane Musick of Howard; one half-sister, Mrs. Belle Lydick of Eugene, Oregon; and two nieces, Mrs. Carol Spotts and Maxine Robinson, and three nephews; George, Walter and Billy Broadie.

Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church in Howard on Monday, March 19th, at 2:30 p.m., conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. R. Griggs.  The Presbyterian choir sang several beautiful selections.  The church was filled to overflowing with mourning relatives and friends and the floral offering was a silent testimonial of the love and respect the deceased commanded in this vicinity.  Interment was made in Grace Lawn cemetery by the side of her mother who preceded her only a few months.
 
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For eleven years Miss Rose Musick had charge of the smaller tots in the Howard schools.  During that time she came in personal contact with perhaps two hundred children or more, representing directly or indirectly nearly every family in Howard and community.  No teacher ever put more of herself into her work than did Rose.  It was her nature to love and be loved and the little folk fairly worshipped her, and naturally the feelings of the little tots was transferred to the parents and relatives.  It is no wonder there that the entire town and country were so anxious during her illness.  The first question one would hear of a morning would be, "have you heard from Rose?"  When the word was discouraging, the little ones would break into sobs and the hearts of the older ones would respond only in a less demonstrative manner.  When her condition was reported favorable the fact would be reflected with smiles.  While there is sorrow in the hearts of all the remembrance of this sweet woman and the good she accomplished will always remain as her benediction to all who knew her.  - Citizen, Howard, Kansas.


Contributed by ~Shirley Brier~ October 31, 2005.
 

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