Orpha Ellen Christian

Mrs. Jim Christian Dies Thurs. At Chadron After Long Illness

Mrs. James Christian, 72, pioneer of this area, died Thursday morning at Chadron after an extended illness. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 from the Harrison Methodist Church with the Rev. Victor Ireland officiating. Burial was in the Harrison Cemetery.

Orpha Ellen Christian was born August 2, 1888, at Audubon, Ia., one of 12 children of George W. Boyles and his wife Mary Jane Shatto. She with her widowed mother, brothers and sisters, moved to Wyoming by covered wagon in 1898. She attended school at Kirtley.

She was married to James H. Christian June 4, 1908, and until 1949 they lived at the homestead place. In 1949 they moved to Harrison. The observance of the couples' fiftieth wedding anniversary June 4, 1957, was the last function in which Mrs. Christian was able to participate.

Five children were born to the Christians, a daughter and twin sons dying in infancy. Surviving are her husband and two daughters, Mrs. Juanita Phipps, Harrison, and Mary E. Fisher, Hot Springs, S. Dak. There are two grandchildren, Rodney and Bob Phipps; and six great grandchilden, Bruce, Joe, John, Gary, Rocky, and Tony Phipps. One sister, Mrs. Goldie Church of Casper, and one brother, Roy Boyles of Lusk, also survive.

Mrs. Christian was baptized in the Christian faith and received into the fellowship of the Methodist Church in Harrison in 1957. Besides her devotion to her family, Mrs. Christian had a great love for the things of nature and her ranch home.

Attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Phipps of Glenrock, Wyo., Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fisher of Hot Springs, Mrs. Florence Wormwood of Glendo, Wyo., Merle Ekwall of Chadron, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Christian, Andrew Christian, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Christian, Leonard Williams, Emil Williams, Roy Boyles, Mr. and Mrs. Van Hanks, and Velma Boyles all of Lusk, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hansen and daughter, Janice from Newcastle, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McLean from Lance Creek.

This gravestone photo was found on nebraskagravestones.org.

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