B: Dec. 18, 1885
Austin, Mower County, Minnesota
Death: Jun. 4, 1923
Austin Daily Herald,
Austin, Minnesota
Monday, June 4, 1923
MEETS DEATH HE FACED HEROICALLY
Roy L. Furtney Succumbs Sunday
After Long Illness And Suffering
Which He Bore With Fortitude.
Roy L. Furtney died Sunday night at 8 o'clock at his home, 1000 North
First street after a long illness. He was conscious to the last moment and
sang and prayed shortly before passing on, for his faith was of the supreme
sort that knew no doubt. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon, with
service at the Methodist church at 4 o'clock, Rev. Warner Johnson
officiating.
The casket will be open to friends at the church from
3 to 4 o'clock.
Mr. Furtney was born in Austin, December 18, 1885, attended the public schools and graduated from our high school in 1904. The next day he began work in the office of the George A. Hormel Packing company's plant and became manager of the credit department. He held this position up to the time of his death. He was thought so highly of by the company's officials that, while they knew some months ago that he could not recover, they did not appoint a successor to take his place.
He was married April 7th, 1911 to Miss Dana F. Waterman of Great Falls,
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| Dana Waterman Furtney
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Mont. To them were born three children, Ferris aged 10, Roy L. aged five
and Dana age one. Besides his wife and children he leaves four sisters,
Lottie of Great Falls, Mont., Ada of Dickinson, N.D., Vera of Minneapolis
and Minnie of Spokane, Wash., also a brother, Harry of Los Angeles and his
mother Mrs. J.S. Furtney of this city. They were all with him at the time
of his death except his sister Minnie, who was unable to come.
Mr. Furtney had always enjoyed perfect health up to about four years ago. On March 15, 1922, it was necessary to have his right arm amputated at the shoulder. He returned from Rochester with a smile on his face and a determination not to let this loss of his arm handicap him. He learned to write with his left hand and he took up the work of life where he had laid it down to undergo the operation. The operation did not bring about a cure and he continued to have treatments in Chicago and at Rochester. His last treatment, which was at Rochester, February 21, of this year was a most trying one and he returned home knowing that nothing more could be done for him. He faced the inevitable with the greatest fortitude. His bearing was one of cheer and faith. He went to his work at the Packing house and told the officials the verdict of the doctors. He stayed at work during that day when his strength failed him.
He was a member of the Methodist church, having united with that denomination during the pastorate of Rev. Lutz. He was a member of the official board of the church since 1906 and chairman of the board of managers for the past three years.
For the past seven years he has been Superintendent of the Ticket Audit Department of the State Fair Board.
He was a member of the Masonic order, the Woodmen, the Equitable Fraternal Union and the Kiwanis club. He was active in the work of all these orders, but his home was where he loved to be best. He always expressed his regrets when business called him out of town.
Roy Furtney was of the heroic type of manhood. There are many who are called upon to undergo similar suffering as that which came to him, but few bear their affliction with the cheer and courage that was his. He was not of the complaining kind. His sufferings were not paraded before the public. After his right arm was amputated he took up his life's work with the same smile and the same spirit that had characterized him when he was in full enjoyment of life.
Nor was this bravery assumed for the benefit of those who saw him every
day. some men can put on a brave face in the presence of their friends, but
he wore it in the crowds where he was not known. A Herald representative was
in the Union depot at Chicago, the day that Mr. Furtney returned from his
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| Miss Dana Waterman
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last trip to consult a widely known X-Ray specialist. Roy came down the
broad stairway in the center of the ceaseless tide of humanity that
endlessly passes to and fro through that great station. His tall straight
figure loomed above the hundreds who were hurrying along to take their
trains. He carried upon his face the same smile that he has worn in his
daily walks among us. Unobserved we watched to see if that brave face would
change when he found that no one knew him of all that multitude. He walked
up and down the waiting room, speaking to no one, for he know no one there.
There is no place so lonesome as to be one of a crowd of strangers, even to
one in perfect health. Yet Mr. Furtney carried himself as one among friends,
yet he was carrying, hidden from human eyes, the fear and the dread of the
disease that was sapping away his wonderful vitality.
Roy Furtney ever held the respect of all who knew him. He was one who was not without honor in the city of his birth and the city where he spend his entire life. He was in every way a good citizen. He stood for the things that were right, for the things that were pure and for the things that were true and worth while. His interests lay in his home and his church. He was a Christian by profession of faith and by his works. He lay down to his last sleep in the confidence of those whose faith is absolute. His life was all too short but the example of his life, his fortitude under great suffering, his splendid example of a clean, upright living survives.
A section of the Methodist church will be reserved for members of the Kiwanis club and their families, President Hoffman announced this afternoon.
LODGES
MASONIC NOTICE
There will be a special communication of Fidelity Lodge No. 39 tomorrow afternoon
at 3:30 sharp for the purpose of attending the funeral of our late brother Roy L.
Furtney. Will the brothers who are willing to furnish cars please bring them.
G.E. Sharpstene, Sec'y
Submitted to MNGenWeb by Dorothy Kunz
ill and a great sufferer. Six weeks ago he was stricken with the grip.
Since that time he has failed rapidly and for the past three weeks he has
been critically and dangerously ill. Those who watched by him did not think
it was possible for him to live as long as he did.
The party left here in the Furtney auto at about 8 o'clock Monday night for Blooming Prairie. On their way back from that village, Cotter was driving the car.
He was born Sept. 8, 1912, to Roy Luke and Dana (Waterman) Furtney in Austin.
Ferris was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Shriners Oriental Band, 50-year member of Kiwanis and the oldest member of First United Methodist Church.