Lorreta Fitzsimmons
Mother of Mrs. Fred Schmidt Dies of Exposure When She Becomes Lost; Body Found
Death from exposure was the fate of Mrs. Lorreta Fitzsimmons, aged 65 years, who but a little more than three months ago took up a homestead about 50 miles north of Douglas, and whose lifeless body was found some five miles from her home last Thursday, following an organized search over the country in that vicinity which lasted several days.
The woman had, according to the searching parties, covered more that 25 miles before she was overcome with fatigue and the cold of the accompanying storm, in her attempt to reach a neighbor's house located but a few miles from her own place. She is said to have started from her home Sunday afternoon, and arriving at a fork in the road, became puzzled because of the storm, and wandered about in a circle. Occasional brief storms swept that section early in the week and therefore the search was more difficult.
The body was found by members of a searching posse organized by Sheriff A. W. Peyton of Douglas. The search was not began until on Tuesday because of the fact that she was temporarily alone at the time she had left her home. She occupied the ranch along with another woman, a Mrs. Brown, who was away when the tragedy occurred. It is believed she succumbed to the elements and low temperatures Sunday night.
Mrs. Fitzsimmons was the mother of Mrs. Fred Schmidt of this city. Mrs. Schmidt left immediately after being notified last Wednesday that her mother was missing, and went to the homestead. She was grieved to illness when news came to her of the finding of her mother's body.
Funeral services were held from the St. James church at Douglas last Saturday, and interment made in the Douglas cemetery. Mrs. Fitzsimmons in also survived by two brothers of Greeley, Colo., who came to attend the last rites.