Mrs. Margaret (Stookey) Lightfoot ~ Palo, Iowa
Decatur County Journal-Iowa
Thursday, April l0, l9l9
MARION FLOYD STOOKEY was born in Kosciusko County, Indiana, March l9, l846, and died at his home in Leon, Iowa, April 2, l9l9, aged 73 years and l3 days. With his parents he moved from Indiana to Linn County, Iowa, in the fall of l857 and settled on a farm.His education was acquired in the district school supplemented by a term in the high school at Cedar Rapids and a year at Western College.He followed the occupation of teaching for several years, teaching during the winter months and working on a farm during the summer.He enlisted in Company C, Forty-seventh Iowa, during the Civil War and served until that regiment was discharged.He graduated from the Law Department of the State University in l877 and immediately settled in Leon, Iowa, where he has since continued the practice of law.Shortly after his location in Leon he formed a partnership with E.W. Haskett which terminated several years later when Mr. Haskett was appointed U.S. District Attorney for Alaska.As a lawyer the deceased was known throughout the country as a safe counselor and he soon developed a broad and deep comprehension of the fundamental principles of the law.He always enjoyed a lucrative practice which furnishes evidence of his integrity and ability.He has served as Mayor and City Attorney of Leon and also County Attorney of Decatur County.He was elected to the Senate in l903 and served during the Thirtieth, Thirty-First and Thirty-Second General Assemblies.On September l, l88l, he was married to MISS ELIZABETH BROOKS at Leon, Iowa, who with their daughter, MRS. MARION E. WASSON, of Des Moines, and his brothers, NELSON, of Palo, and CHARLES, of Shellsburg, and his sister, MRS. MARGARET LIGHTFOOT, of Palo, survive him.For over forty years MR. STOOKEY has been an honored resident of Leon during which time he has served both city, county and state in honored positions. He was a man of exemplary character marked for his quiet and even tempered disposition.His life speaks louder than any words that could be spoken in his praise.
For many years he was one of the owners of the decatur county Journal.Under this influence and management the paper prospered and its sphere of usefulness was greatly extended.The editorials were widely quoted and it became one of the ablest and strongest defenders of the principles of the Republican Party in the eighth Congressional District.The deceased believed in the fundamental principles of Christianity.He believed that religion is essential and indispensable to the welfare of men and governments.To one who had known him for many years he once remarked: The greatest message ever delivered to mankind is contained in the words of the Master, "I am the resurrection and the life."
MARION F. STOOKEY was apatriotic American and loved his country.He was devoted to his party but that devotion to party was superinduced by his love of his country.He was always prominent in the councils of his party and "we shall meet but we will miss him."
He was sick for over nine weeks gradually growing weaker and weaker, until the end came.The funeral services were held from the home Friday afternoon, April 4th, and were in charge of Rev. C.H. Hiller, Pastor of the Leon M.E. Church, assisted by Rev. Brooks, of Colfax, and also the Masonic Fraternity of which he was for many years a prominent member.