St. Clair County Obits

SAMUEL PARK

Clinton, Missouri newspaper
March 1936
Samuel Park died at his home three miles west of Warsaw on Highway 18 last Sunday about 6 p.m. after a lingering illness of several months. Deceased, born near Mt. Zion, Henry County, August 22, 1872, was married to Ettie Meacham, November 4, 1894. To their union were born six children. Those living are Mrs. Ruth Holland and Mrs. Lucy Shelton of Wapato, Washington; Mrs. Katie Graham of Appleton City; and Harley Park of Deepwater. He is also survived by four brothers, Geo. and Milo of Mt. Zion, Overton of Ponca City, Okla., and Noah of Tulsa, Okla., and one sister, Mrs. Carrie Edwards of Mt. Zion; also three half brothers, John Holland and Chally Park of Lowry City and David Park of Ohio P.O. and five half sisters, Mesdames Mollie Foster, Mattie Park, Cimantha Bunch and Hannah Terral of Lowry City vicinity and Mrs. Mary Stewart of Deepwater, and seven grandchildren.
At an early age, he confessed his faith in Christ and united with the Park Grove Christian Church in St. Clair County. Until just a few years ago, he was in business in Deepwater until he moved to Benton County where he died March 8 at the age of 63 years, 6 months and 16 days.
When a wee lad people would often give Mr. Park pennies for candy but he always bought nails to build something. So at a very early age he chose to be a carpenter and was always happiest when following this vocation. Many fine homes stand today in Henry and Benton Counties and in the states of Washington and Oregon, showing his skill as a mason, carpenter and interior decorator, for his brother, Noah, he was completing his third modern home, at his death. Many homes in Clinton and Grandview of this state have antiques repaired by this good man.
Most of Mr. Park's life was spent in Henry County but several years were spent in Oregon and Washington. In these states his children were born and spent their early childhood. He gave to them a rich heritage of honesty, broadmindedness and faith in the Lord. He ever taught life's finest lesson, to love one's neighbor as himself.
His funeral services were conducted at the Park Grove Christian church March 9 at 2 p.m. by Rev. H. E. Carpenter of Calhoun. The music was provided by a chorus composed of Mesdames Blanch Chiles, Mary Catley and W. E. Carter, Misses Dorothy Chiles, and Mary Beth Catley with Mrs. Geo. Hillegas at the piano. Acting pallbearers were John Park, Wm. Bunch, Orla Park, Zara Park, Lester Jackson, Winn Gilkey and Murrel Richmond. The casket, covered with beautiful floral offerings, spoke silently of the high esteem in which he was held by those who knew him best.
Following the rites at the church, his body was laid among his relatives and friends of many years in the Park cemetery. A special feature of the service was that his funeral sermon was preached from a pulpit that he made with his own hands years ago and gave to the church, and the seats of the church were marked off by him. He also drew the plan of the building and built the furniture in it, and the altar at the Deepwater Presbyterian church was also made by him. The family has many friends who share with them in their grief.