"H. L. Mead Dies Suddenly"
H. L. Mead, an old and respected citizen of this city passed away Monday afternoon at the family residence on the hillside west of town, and while his death was not wholly unexpected it came as a great shock to his family. Mr. Mead had been in very poor health for some time and Monday afternoon seemed the same as usual. Mrs. Mead was coming to this city and Mr. Mead accompanied her as far as the road and opened and closed the gate for her, and upon returning to the house went to the woodshed to get an armful of wood, and his daughter, Mrs. Poncin, who had stayed at home with him, becoming somewhat alarmed at his not returning, started to look for him and found him dead in the woodshed. He had passed away without a struggle, while in the act of picking up an armful of wood.
The funeral was held from the Baptist church this afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. black, of the Baptist church assisted by Rev. Thompson, an old Michigan friend, officiating at the services. The remains were interred in the Washington Lawn cemetery.
Homer Leroy Mead was born on the 18th of April 1848 in Wood County Ohio. His father, Robert B. Mead, who was at one time a resident of this city served during the civil war and after his return, the family moved to Oberlin, Ohio, where he resided until after his marriage to Miss Emma Holbrook on Dec. 25th, 1876. From Oberlin, Mr. and Mrs. Mead moved to Escanoba, Mich. in 1878, and resided there ten years, being engaged in the drug business with a brother. After disposing of his interest in the drug business Mr. and Mrs. Mead and family started for the Pacific coast and arrived in Tacoma in the fall of 1888. They resided there until March 1889, when they moved to this city, where they have resided continuously since that time. On his arrival here he engaged in the drug business and followed that line until 1893, when he engaged in the undertaking business with E. R. Butterworth, which business he followed until a few months ago, when he sold to C. L. Stricklin.
Mr. Mead became a member of the Baptist church in Oberlin, Ohio, and has since continued his membership. At the age of 21 years he joined the I.O.O.F. at Woodland, Ill. and has been an active member in that order since his initiation. He was also a member of the Yeomen lodge of this city and a social member of the Centralia Aerie F.O.E. here, and of the Rebekahs.
Mr. Mead was a man of a very affectionate disposition and in his death the citizens of this city lose a friend in whom they had implicit trust, and his family a loving and affectionate father and husband.
He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Geo. A. Poncin, of Seattle, and Mrs. H. Allen Turner of this city, and one son, Leroy Mead, also a resident of this city, Mrs. A. Minkler, a sister, also resides here.
Source: The Centralia Daily Chronicle, 18 Dec 1907, page 7.
Transcribed by Diana Smith. He is listed as "Homer C. Mead" in the WA State Death Index. She has no further information on this individual.