Rev. Jesse Dancey

April 19, 1936 Fairbury Blade, Fairbury, Illinois

Word was received here Monday evening of the death of Rev. Jesse Dancey at his home in Keokuk, Iowa, his passing rather unexpected.  He had been in poor health from heart trouble from some months, but recently had been improving, and had filled his pulpit on Sunday, and it is believed the strain was too great for his physical condition.  Deceased was a son of Samuel and Frances E. Dancey, and was born at Fairbury on August 25, 1876.

He received his education in the city schools, later receiving his degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University, and Boston University.  He entered the ministry in the Central Illinois conference, his first charge being the Park M. E. church in Bloomington, later holding pastorates in Danville, Rockford, Chicago, St. Louis, Wesley Foundation at Ames, Iowa and Keokuk, Iowa.  He was united in marriage to Miss Lura Akers at Bloomington in 1901, who, with the following children, survives him: Thomas, of Detroit; Alice, of Cleveland, and Marcia, of Chicago.

He is survived by two brothers, Walter, of Chicago, and Prof. Lloyd Dancey, of Waukesha, Wis. and a sister, Mrs. Jennie Walker, of Waukesha.   He was a member of the Masonic fraternity with rank of a 32nd degree Mason. During the World War he served as chaplain in French Base Hospital 30 for a year and a half.    Mr. Dancey was a forceful, pleasing speaker, and also gave much time to writing, contributing many articles to the religious press, the last of which, “Immortal Man in a Mortal Society, “ appeared in the Christian Century recently, a fitting close to a life-long philosophy of the builders of a better world for the nourishment of a good life for all men.

Funeral services will be held today (Friday) at Keokuk, Ia., Rev. Thomas Ewing, of the Illinois conference, conducting the Service.  The remains are to be cremated and the ashes brought to this city on Saturday for interment in Graceland cemetery.