Obituary

Taylor Ridge-- Mrs. Patrick L. McManus, 79, a resident of the Taylor Ridge vicinity most of her life, died at 5 o'clock yesterday in her farm home, on her 51st wedding anniversary. She had been ill six weeks.
  The body was taken to the Wheelan funeral home, Rock Island and will be returned to the residence this afternoon. The rosary will be recited in the residence at 8 o'clock tonight and tomorrow night. Funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Friday morning in the residence an at 10 o'clock in St. Anthony's Catholic church, Milan, with burial in the family lot in the Preemption cemetery.
  Mrs. McManus, the former Ellen Ayers, was born April 15, 1868 in Davenport, a daughter of the late Patrick and Ellen Kelly Ayers. She moved to Viola as a child with her parents, and attended school there.
  She was married to Mr. McManus on Jan 20, 1897, in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Preemption, and has lived on the same farm since that time. Mr. McManus preceded her in death in June, 1945. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church, Edgington, and its alter and rosary society.
  Surviving are four daughters, Sister Mary Eleanor of Mercy hospital, Davenport, Mrs. Marguerite Monaghan of Harvey, Ill., Mrs. Loretta Verschoore of Taylor Ridge and Mrs. Josephine Verschoore of Reynolds; two sons, Joseph and Bernard McManus of Taylor Ridge; 21 grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Will Barnes of Preemption and Miss Elizabeth Ayers of Taylor Ridge; and two brothers, Martin Ayers of Viola and Richard of Shannon City, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband, a brother and a sister. (January, 1948)

McManus Funeral

Taylor Ridge--Funeral services for Mrs. Ellen McManus, who died Tuesday afternoon, were held yesterday in the residence, followed by a requiem mass in St. Anthony's Catholic church, Milan. The Rev. John J. Crowley celebrated the mass; the Rev. Daniel F. Monaghan, Philo, Ill., the former pastor of St. Anthony's was deacon; the Rev. John Cassidy of Aledo was subdeacon and the Rev. Louis J. Schaechter, chaplain of the St. Anthony's hospital, Rock Island, was master of ceremonies. Burial was in Preemption cemetery.
  Pallbearers were Leo Ayers, Earl Barnes, Oscar Grundstroem, Everett Hofer, Charles and Vincent Conway, Harold Curry and Ben Redecker.

McManus

  Funeral services for Mrs. Ellen McManus, age 81 were held last Friday at 10:00 a.m. in St. Ambrose Catholic church, Milan. A solemn requiem mass was celebrated by Rev. John J. Crowley with Rev. D. F. Monaghan of Philo as deacon and Rev. John Cassidy of Aledo as sub-deacon. Rev. Louis J. Schaecter, chaplain at St. Anthony's hospital, Rock Island, was master of ceremonies. Three grandsons, Paul, Daniel and Donald Verschoore, served as acolytes.
  Burial was in the Preemption cemetery. Leo Ayers, Earl Barnes, Oscar Grundstroem, Everett Hofer, Charles and Vincent Conway, Harold Curry and Ben Redecker were the pallbearers.
  Mrs. McManus died at her farm  home near Taylor Ridge on January 20, the date of her 51st wedding anniversary.
  Surviving are four daughters, Sister Mary Eleanor of Mercy hospital, Davenport, Mrs. Marguerite Monaghan of Harvey, Mrs. Loretta Verschoore of Taylor Ridge and Mrs. Josephine Verschoore of Reynolds; two  sons, Joseph and Richard of Taylor Ridge; two sisters, Mrs. Will Barnes of Preemption and Miss Elizabeth Ayers of Shannon City, Iowa; and 21 grandchildren. Her husband died on June 16, 1945, a brother and a sister also preceded her in death.
  Born April 15, 1866, in Davenport she was formerly Ellen Ayers, daughter of the late Patrick and Ellen Kelly Ayers. When she was small the family moved to Viola where she attended school. On Jan. 20, in St. Joseph's Catholic church, Preemption, she was married to Patrick L. McManus. She came as a bride to the farm near Taylor Ridge where she lived until her death. She belonged to St. Patrick's Catholic church in Edgington and was a charter member of its Altar and Rosary Society.
  Her live was devoted to her home and children. While not as active in community affairs as some, the many floral offerings and spiritual bouquets bespoke the high esteem in which she was held. Many spoke of the cordial hospitality shown by Mrs. McManus in her home. She spared no effort to further the spiritual and educational development of her children who were her pride and joy.
(Reynolds Press, January 30, 1948)