Obituary for Ellen Oman McKay

FUNERAL SERVICES

The Last Respects to the Remains of Mother McKay

The funeral services over the remains of Ellen O. McKay, were held in the Second Ward meeting house in this City, on Saturday, Dec. 17, 1887, Bishop McQuarrie presiding. After singing, prayer was offered by Counselor George Larkin. Singing.

Remarks were made by John Ellis, J.M. Thomas, James Riley, Counselors Thomas Doxey, and Warren G. Child, Bishop Robert McQuarrie, and President C. F. Middleton. These gentlemen had been neighbors of the deceased for nearly thirty years, and all bore a strong testimony of the high esteem in which she was held, and also of the indefatigable manner in which she labored of the good of her friends and fellow-religionists. Bishop McQuarrie read a short sketch of a few incidents of her life which was as follows:

Ellen Oman McKay was born August 14, 1807, in "Carthnesshire, Scotland. Embraced the gospel the 3rd day of Nov. 1850. Left her native land for Utah in March, 1856. Crossed the Atlantic in the ship Thornton, commanded by Captain Collins. Disappointments in regard to means necessitated the family's remaining in New York for two years, and one year in Iowa to obtain sufficient means to secure an outfit to cross the plains, consisting of one old wagon, two cows, two three-
year-old steers and one old ox, yoked to the wagon to draw supplies for the family, which consisted of seven persons; namely, father, mother, two sons and three daughters. They left Florence (now Council Bluffs) in April, 1859, in Captain James S. Brown's company and while making that, fedious journey across the plains. Mother McKay never put her foot in the wagon while it was in motion, and waded all the fordable rivers and streams from the City of Iowa to Salt Lake City, which place the family reached September, 1859. She located in Ogden, Second Ward, where her home has been until her death. Her last days were spent with her daughter Isabella, who has been separated from the family since her husband Wm. Wadly, was called upon, in 1862, to strengthen the Southern Mission, and Mother McKay's last words were; "Oh, how thankful I am to my Heavenly Father for His Kindness to me and mine to the last."

After singing, benediction was pronounced by Henry Baily.

The remains were viewed by a large number of her friends and acquaintances, after which her remains were followed to the cemetery.

She was the first one of her sex that received the Gospel in the p art of the country from which she came, and was the only one of her father's family to join the church.

She was a mother of three sons and four daughters, and had forty grandchildren. Two sons, three daughters survive her. She was a true, good, and faithful mother, and thousands cen testify to her kindness.

Peace to her ashes.

Millennial Star and Deseret News please copy.

DIED

McKay - On December 14 1887 , at Pleasant Grove, Utah, Co., while visiting her daughter Isabella Wadley, of old age. Mother Ellen Mckay, wife of William McKay, of this City, and mother of Bishop David McKay, of Huntsville.

She was born Aug 14th 1807, making her 80 years and 4 months old. The body was expected to arrive in this City last evening. The funeral will take place from the Second Ward meeting house on Saturday, Dec. 17th at 11o'clock a.m. Friends invited.