TRIBUTE TO REV. REYNOLDS
This estimable Man Departed This Life, Friday August 19th at his Home in Nebraska.
The Rev. Maynard Oscar Reynolds died at his home in Gibbon Friday, August 19. Mr. Reynolds had been in ill health for more than a year. A hard attack of the grip early in 1909 developed into tuberculosis. His decline was constant and in January 1910 he went to New Mexico in hope of regaining his health but came home April 17 no better. Since then his decline has been very rapid.
Mr. Reynolds was born Feb., 2, 1870, in Coles county, Ill. He spent 32 years of his life in his native state, two years in Kansas and six years in Nebraska. After coming to Nebraska, he lived for a time near Chapman and for the last five years in Gibbon.
He received his education in the public schools of his native county and in a college at Danville, Indiana. For 12 years he taught school.
His active religious life began when he was a boy of fifteen. He united with the Cumberland Presbyterian church and was very active in his local church. About 10 years ago he entered the gospel ministry in response to the call of God which he felt in early youth.
His first pastorate was his home church a distinction enjoyed by very few ministers and certainly a tribute to that true Christian spirit of gentleness and genuineness which so endeared him to the people of his community. Later he served a church at Coffeen, Ill., and since April 1905 until recently he has been the pastor of the Presbyterian church at Gibbon and Buda. His resignation was accepted with the greatest reluctance and only after it became evident that he would be unable to continue his work. During his pastorate 29 members were received into the church and the beautiful new church will ever stand as a monument to his faith in God and the people of this place in the heart and life of the community. As a pastor Mr. Reynolds was dearly beloved by the people.
He entered sympathetically into the lives over which he was shepherd and this sympathy was shared by everyone whether in the church or out. No greater tribute could be given of the high regard of the entire community than its kindness to him and his family during his sickness.
Mr. Reynolds was a brother well beloved in the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities and in the Court of Honor.
As a minister he was held in highest esteem by his brethren in the ministry and was true to every obligation to the church.
Mr. Reynold’s home life was very happy. He was married to Miss Flora Bryant February 4, 1891. Five children were born into this home. The youngest baby Eugene was taken away just a few weeks ago.
Mrs. Reynolds with Everett, Mable, Minnie and Irwin are left to mourn the loss of their beloved.
Mrs. Reynolds has entered heart into all the work of her beloved husband, sharing with him the joys and sorrows of a minister’s life; she has bravely endured the afflictions and loss which come to her. This community extends to her and her family heartfelt sympathy.
Mr. Reynolds leaves behind a father, three brothers and five sisters. The father and two brothers live in the old home county in Illinois. One sister, Mrs. Minnie Morrison, lives at Winslow, Arizona; two sisters, Mrs. Ida M. Bell and Miss Nettie Reynolds, are living near Gibbon.
Father Reynolds, Mrs. Bell and Nettie were all present when he passed away.
Mr. Reynolds funeral was held at the Presbyterian church Sunday morning at ten o’clock. The funeral services were in charge of Rev. R. L. Purdy, the present pastor of the church. The funeral sermon was preached by Leland C. McEwen, D. D. of Kearney, an intimate friend of Mr. Reynolds. Rev R. Richards pastor of the Baptist church made the prayer and Rev Nels C. Johnson, pastor-at large, of Kearney spoke of the life and work of Mr. Reynolds.
The other churches of the town dismissed their service to attend the funeral and the audience present was an elegant tribute to the memory of this “Man of God.”
The pall bearers were chosen from the Baraca class of the Presbyterian Sunday school. They were Messrs. Allen Walker, Garnet Walker, Ray Francis, Geo. Morrow, W. C. Ogilivie and Calvin Gordon.
The body was laid to rest in the beautiful Gibbon cemetery, his soul is at rest in the Father’s house. A good man, a godly man has gone. We mourn his loss but we stop not with our weeping, we brush aside the tear and rejoice in his life and that he lived among us; and more, we in the fresh memory of his life offer our lives to the same unselfish service of God and for humanity that characterized his life.
-----Gibbon Nebraska Reporter