| Sources |
- [S871] "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960", FamilySearch, Louise Alice Mayer, 12 November 1920 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3GZ-TFJ: 10 March 2018); citing Seattle, King County, Washington, reference 3004, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 1,992,759.
- [S670] Newspapers.com, "On Anniversary of Wedding He Joins His Mate," The Seattle Star (Seattle, Washington), 26 November 1920, p. 1.
On Anniversary of Wedding He Joins His Mate
Grieving for His Pal of 44 Years, Aged Man Follows Her to “Wonderland Beyond”
by Hal Armstrong
Parted 13 days before by the hand of death, Mr. and Mrs. George F. Mayer, until recently of 1306 E. Union St., joined each other early yesterday in the spirit world and, if what we mortals like to think is true, celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary joyously together in “the wonderland beyond.”
Funeral services for Mr. Mayer were held at the Bonney-Watson establishment at 1 p.m. today. A smile was on the dead man’s lips, all that remained to tell the relatives and many friends he left behind that his passing was a happy one.
The body was cremated, just as his wife’s had been 13 days ago. Their ashes will rest, side by side, in tiny urns, as both of them had wished.
But those who witnessed the passing of the two cannot believe other than that somewhere in the misty after-world, Mr. and Mrs. Mayer have rejoined, and hand in hand, are going on. There were incidents, it is said, that point that way.
Both went to the Minor hospital about the same time some weeks ago. Mr. Mayer was 76, his wife a bit younger. During their 44 years together their home life had been singularly without the slightest friction.
For 21 years they had lived in Seattle. Mr. Mayer was connected with various railway, mercantile, real estate and promotion firms here at different times as auditor. he was, finally, auditor for the Drummond Lighterage company. He was a Mason and a member of the Artic Club.
Throughout their married life, Mrs. Mayer was his helpmeet, advisor, counsellor, and sweetheart, it is said. They were very close.
It became apparent when Mrs. Mayer first went to the hospital that she had not long to live. Mr. Mayer broken down immediately and was taken to the hospital, too. Until she died, they were constantly inquiring after the welfare of one another, with more than ordinary interest and concern.
On November 12, Mrs. Mayer breathed her last. Mr. Mayer was too ill, it was decided, to inform him of the fact, but he seemed to sense that she was gone. he didn’t ask for her again. His condition steadily grew worse. But it was not until after her funeral on the Sunday following that his physician entire gave up hope.
“After her funeral,” said Mrs. A. F. Rogers, of Spokane, his step-daughter, who was at his bedside, “he gave completely up. He seemed to have no further interest in getting well. He wanted to die.”
A special nurse, Miss Mabel Holmes, was called in a final effort to revive him, and stubbornly his doctor and others at the hospital fought to reawaken the desire to live.
Some said his heart was broken, yet much of the time, while he lay for days unconscious, his face was strangely placid and he smiled.
“Yesterday would have been their 44th wedding day,” said Mrs. Rogers. “had they been alive, Mr. Mayer would have spent the day at home alone with Mrs. Mayer. He would have brought her flowers and some little gift, as he always did on such occasions, and helped her with the dishes.”
Just before 3 o’clock yesterday morning—as the anniversary dawned—it was known at the hospital that the end had come. Mr. Mayer opened his tired eyes, smiled peacefully, closed them again, was gone, the smiled transfixed.
There is no surgery to mend a broken heart; no balm in medicine to fill an empty one. But does death always part us?
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Hollier & Dufilho Family History
