Berry, Martha Schrag (1906-1931)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1931 Jun 3 p. 3

Birth date: 1906 May 7

text of obituary:

General Survey

DIES IN EXPLOSION

Moundridge and Community experienced a severe shock last Friday when news reached here that Mrs. Thomas Berry, who was known here as Miss Martha Schrag, had died at Garden City on the preceding evening as the result of a gasoline explosion.

Mrs. Berry was busy with her duties about her farm home near Garden City, while Mr. Berry had driven into town to prepare for a trip to Moundridge on the next day to visit Mrs. Berry's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Schrag. Suddenly a fire broke out as the result of a gasoline explosion and she was enveloped in flames. Snatching a quilt, she wrapped her child in it and carried it to safety. The baby was burned quite severly [sic] and is now in the Bethel Hospital. Mrs. Berry was burned more severly [sic] however, and died that evening. She had attained an age of 24 years and 7 days.

Mrs. Berry, nee Schrag, was born at Moundridge on May 7, 1906 to Mr. and Mrs. J. H.Schrag. She attended the Moundridge grade school and also the Moundridge High School with the class of 1924. Her preparatory education was completed at Bethel College where she also did some work towards her college degree. She alter attended the Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia. On May 15, 1921 she was baptized by the Rev. P. P. Wedel upon her confession of faith and united with the First Mennonite Church of Christian of which she remained a member until her death.

On April 7, 1920 she was united in holy wedlock to Thomas Berry. To this union one child was born. They established their home at Johnson, Kansas, but later moved to a farm near Garden City where her tragic death occurred. Her parents were summoned at 5 o'clock last Thursday afternoon and arrived there before she died at 9:40 mountain time.

She leaves to mourn her early departure her bereaved husband, an infant son, Eaton Eugene, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Schrag, three brothers, Herbert and Elmer of Moundridge, and Edwin of Wellington, besides a large circle of further relatives and many friends. One brother passed to the beyond before her in infancy.