The Payette Independent
Thursday, July 07, 1927
MRS. M'GLINCHEY CALLED BY DEATH
WOMAN OF RARE PERSONALITY AND WONDERFUL LEADERSHIP CALLED FROM A LIFE OF GREAT USEFULNESS.
We deeply regret to announce the death of Mrs. May E. McGlinchey which took place at her residence in Payette in the early hours of Saturday, July 2nd. Although for the last few years Mrs. McGlinchey had been largely confined to her home yet the end came quite suddenly and she had only been ill for a few days. Pneumonia was the cause of death.
The deceased lady was probably the most outstanding personality of the Payette Valley and no one entered more fully into the life of the community during the many years of her residence here than she did and even after she was prevented by physical disability from her wonted activity her interest was none the less keen and she followed closely all local events and happenings. She was of a most versatile nature and possessed a keen wit which was the delight of her many friends and of those who were fortunate enough to hear her speak at meetings when she charmed her audiences with her originality and clever repartee. Above all she possessed a great heart and her generosity showed itself in many unostentatious acts of gracious kindness. She had exceptional powers of leadership and the history of the various societies of which she was a member is largely the story of her life.
May E. Noggle was the daughter of Judge David Noggle, United States Judge of Wisconsin, and she was born at Beloit, Wisconsin on March 8th, 1846. In 1860 Judge Noggle was appointed Chief Justice of Idaho and the family came to live in Boise. Shortly afterwards Miss Noggle married Major Alvord who was U. S. Marshall at that time. Major Alvord died in California in 1876. In 1878 Mrs. Alvord married John McGlinchey at San Francisco, Cal. and resided with him in various parts of Idaho, coming to Payette in the eighties. Mr. McGlinchey died in 1919. Mrs. McGlinchey is survived by two children, Mr. D. D. Alvord of Twin Falls and Mrs. May Gilmore of Payette.
Mrs. McGlinchey was for many years President of the Portia Club and always has been a leading spirit in that organization. She was also President of the Womans Relief Corps and Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star in whose doings she played a leading part and maintained a keen interest right up to the last. She was a communicant of the Episcopal Church into which she had been baptized in infancy subsequently being confirmed by the noted Bishop Kemper at Beloit, Wis., in girlhood. Largely owing to her efforts and determination the present Episcopal church of St. James' was built in 1893. There were only three communicants of the Episcopal church in Payette at that time, the others being Mrs. A. B. Moss and Mrs. Say, and to the efforts of these three devoted women the present generation of church people owe much. At the time Bishop Talbot - now Bishop of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania and the oldest Bishop in the Episcopal Church - was Bishop of Idaho and he permitted Mrs. McGlinchey to make the final selection of the name of the church which is known as St. James' to-day.
Funeral services were held at the Episcopal church at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning and were conducted by Rev. Thos. Ashworth, rector. He said it was not the custom in his church to preach a funeral sermon, but he made a few appropriate remarks and read the following favorite poem of the deceased:
Once it was painful trying
Now 'tis perfect trust
Once a half salvation
Now, the uttermost
Once 'twas careless holding
Now, He holds me fast
Once 'twas constant drifting
Now, my anchor's east.
We think of death as destroying
Let us rather think of Christ as saving
We think of life as ending,
Let us think of it as gaining,
We think of it as losing
Let us think of it as gaining,
As parting, it is meeting
As going, it is arriving
We hear Christ's voice
"You are but coming to Me."
The remains were layed away in Riverside cemetery and were followed to their last resting place by a large concoarse of friends who deeply mourn with the son and daughter the loss of one whose life had been a guiding star to so many.
