Iris Berrisford,
90, of 227 S. White, a retired school teacher,
died at 3:55 p.m. in McDonough District
Hospital.
Born March 19, 1892,
in Table Grove to Allen A. and Anna M. Foster
Wetzel, she married Fay Brooks in 1926. She
married Lorren Berrisford in 1965. Both husbands
preceded her in death, as did a foster daughter
and two sisters.
A McDonough county
resident all her life and oaf Macomb 25 years,
she taught elementary school in McDonough County
and Fountain Green.
She was a member of
McDonough County Retired Teachers Association,
McDonough County Historical Association, First
Presbyterian Church, the DAR, Macomb Beautiful
Association and Western Illinois University
Museum.
Surviving are a
foster daughter, Mary Moore Long of Detroit,
Mich.; one brother, Gerald Wetzel of Macomb; and
three sisters, Mrs. Florence Craft of Macomb,
Mrs. Vergene Bland of Lewistown and Mrs. Maxine
Mayes of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Services will be at
11 a.m. tomorrow in her church, the Rev. Kenneth
Mortonson officiating. Burial will be in
Industry Cemetery.
Visitation will be
from 7 to 8:30 tonight at Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen
Chapel.
Memorials may be
made to her church or the DAR.
Another article,
dated Wed. Mar. 16,1983, unknown paper
Mrs. Iris Berresford
It was with a
feeling of genuine sadness that friends in this
community received word of the death Sunday
afternoon, March 13th of Mrs. Iris (Brooks)
Berresford of Macomb, following a serious
illness of less than two months, the end coming
just six days before her 91st birthday.
Born and raised in
the Industry-Vermont area, Iris was on of the
ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Wetzel. She
became well known in the Fountain Green
neighborhood over 50 years ago when she and her
husband, Fay Brooks erected the two story brick
gasoline service station and upstairs apartment
for living quarters where they lived while
operating the station for a good many years. She
taught the primary room in our grade school for
most of these years. After retiring from
teaching and from the service station business,
they continued to live in Fountain Green until
Fay’s death in 1957. Shortly thereafter Iris
moved to Macomb where she later married a long
time family friend Loren Berresford, who passed
away a few years after their marriage. She
continued to maintain her own home throughout
the succeeding years, taking an active part in
the work of Presbyterian Church, the DAR and
other community activities, almost to the very
last.
Many years ago she
and Fay took a young niece into their home where
she lived until almost grown. Another homeless
girl, Mary Moore also made her home with them
for a number of years. Likewise, they cared for
Fay’s mother, Mrs. C.C. Brooks during her
declining years, also his aunt, Mrs. Etta Price
made her home with them for a good many years.
Always eager to help
with any worthwhile undertaking in the church
and community, Iris gave generously of time,
talents and money to each one. She was always
available to help relatives and friends whenever
the opportunity to do so presented itself.
Left to mourn her
passing, in addition to her many friends are
three sisters, Mrs. Florence Craft, Macomb, Mrs.
Vergene Bland, Lewistown and Mrs. Maxine Mayes,
living in Florida also one brother, Gerald
Wetzel of Macomb as well as numerous nieces and
nephews. Three brothers, Ross, Harry and
Clifford Wetzel and two sisters, Mrs. Miriam
Carson and Mrs. Enid Sundell preceded her in
death.
Funeral services for
Mrs. Berresford were held at the Macomb
Presbyterian Church Wednesday morning at eleven
o’clock.