Mary J. Eichler, 96, died Monday - Funeral Services for Braymer's Oldest Resident Held Yesterday afternoon. -- Mrs. Mary J. Eichler, Braymer's oldest resident, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H.B. Cooper, and Mr. Cooper, Monday afternoon. She was 96 years old. Mrs. Eichler had been in bad health for several years, and some weeks ago suffered a severe illness. After apparently showing signs of improvement, she took a turn for the worse and death had been expected for several days preceding her passing. Death was attributed generally to the frailties of her advanced age, she just apparently wore out. She was a resident of the Elk Grove Community, S.E. of Braymer, before the town was laid out. Her life was truly that of a pioneer, in every sense of the word.

Born near Mirabile, in the West part of the county, she has spent most of her life here. However she lived in the West a year and a half in the days when the West was really West. Bands of fighting Indians roamed the plains when she made the trip West in a wagon train, and she told many interesting stories of thrilling episodes she experienced on that trip.
Mary Jane Oster, daughter of Conrad and Mary Ann Oster, was born at Mirabile, Mo., January 27, 1841, and departed this life at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Cooper, May 10, 1937, at the age of 96 yrs., 3 mos., and 14 days.
When four years of age she moved with her parents to Elk Grove where she grew to womanhood. She was married to Dr. Franklin Cox in 1857, and to this union two children were born, Joseph Franklin and Mary Matilda Cox. Her husband died in 1862, and in April 1864, she was married to the late Henry Eichler.
With the exception of a year and seven months living in the west, where her husband was stationed fighting Indians and was engaged in business, she lived her entire life in Caldwell County.
She was united with the Christian Church in 1868, and lived a consistant christian life until the Grim Reaper, Death, called her home.
Her husband preceded her in death in 1905. Nine children also preceded her in death, namely; Joseph Franklin Cox, Mary Matilda Leakey, Silvia S. Denison, Malinda Ellen Gunby, Oley E. and Winter Guy Eichler, Bertha Edith Bunch, George Eichler,who died in infancy, and Iva May Eichler who died when she was two years old.
Three children, Mrs. Lavina C. Tait, Mrs. Katie E. Cooper, and Clyde Eichler all of Braymer, are left to mourn her passing. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 20 great great grandchildren; a foster daughter, Mrs. Julia Herald, of Montebello, Calif., whom she reared from childhood; a brother, Grant Oster, Mena, Ark., and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services in her memory were held from the Braymer Christian church yesterday afternoon conducted by Rev. Sophia Fritts, of Kansas City a former pastor and longtime friend of Mrs. Eichler, Rev. LaVerne L. Rudolph and Rev. Ralph H. Hicks assisted. Burial was at the Evergreen Cemetery.

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We wish to thank the neighbors, friends and relatives for their many acts of kindness, expressions of sympathy and beautiful floral offerings during the illness and after the death of our dear mother, Mrs. Mary J. Eichler.