Marjorie Eames Coast and Donald McClain

DONALD MCCLAIN married MARJORIE EAMES COAST on July 25, 1923 in First Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa,⁴⁵³¹ daughter of GRACE EDITH MCGEE and PRESTON CRAFT COAST. She was born September 11, 1895 in Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa,¹⁸⁸⁴ and died August 4, 1924 in Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa.⁶³²⁵ She is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa.^{405, 398}

• Descendant Reports
  • William Scott Descendant Report (Ancestor of Marjorie E. Coast)

Iowa City Press-Citizen, June 14, 1923⁴⁰⁶

Pre-Nuptial Courtesy

Miss Miriam Chase was hostess at an attractively appointed pre-nuptial courtesy, yesterday afternoon, at her home at 632 Brown street, in compliment to Miss Marjorie Coast, whose marriage to Mr. Don McClain will take place in late summer. The affair took the form of a handkerchief shower and Kensington, and included Mrs. Harold Shrauger, of Atlantic, Iowa; Mrs. George Gerhart, of Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Grant Price, of Moorehead, Minnesota; Mrs. Helen Heberling Smith, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Claire Hamilton, of Winterset; Miss Lillian Prentiss, Miss Margery Heberling, Mrs. Annette Cannon, Miss Caroline Newcomb, Mrs. Henning Larsen, Miss Lydia Eicher and Mrs. Philip Souers.

Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 11, 1923³⁷⁶¹

Announce Approaching Wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Preston C. Coast have issued invitations for the wedding of their daughter, Miss Marjorie Coast and Mr. Donald McClain, son of the late Chief Justice and Mrs E. McClain, the ceremony to be an event of Wednesday evening, July 25th, at the Presbyterian church. Rev. D. W. Wylie, of New York City, formerly of Iowa City, an uncle of Miss Coast will be the officiating clergyman.

The bride-elect has been the recipient of a number of pre-nuptial courtesies during the past few weeks, among which were charmingly appointed parties given by Miss Miriam Chase and Mrs. Robert Gibson.

Miss Coast was graduated from the State University of Iowa with the class of '19, and is affiliated with Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Mr. McClain received his B. A. degree in '01 and was graduated from the college of law in '03. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and junior partner of the law firm of Dutcher and McClain.

Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 18, 1923⁴⁰⁷

Compliment Bridal Party

Mrs. Fred L. Stevens and Mrs. J. F. Sproatt presided at a charmingly appointed breakfeast party this morning at 9:30 o'clock at the home of Mrs. Stevens at ?14 South Summit street, as a pre-nuptial courtesy to the members of the McClain-Coast wedding party. Prettily arranged blue delphinia formed the attractive centerpiece and gave a pleasing color note to the appointments which included covers for eleven guests. The wedding of Miss Margery Coast and Mr. Donald McClain will be solemnized on the evening of July 25th, at the First Presbyterian church. An out of town guest at the courtesy this morning was Mrs. D. W. Wylie, of New York City, who is visiting at the Coast home.

Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 24, 1923¹¹⁴³¹

Preside at Pre-Nuptial Dinner

Mr. and Mrs. WIlliam O. Coast entertained at a charmingly appointed dinner party last evening in their home in honor of Miss Marjorie Coast and Mr. Donald McClain, whose wedding will take place on July 25th, at the First Presbyterian church. The guest list included members of the bridal party, out of town guests and those who have entertained for Miss Coast.

Covers were laid for twenty-four at attractively arranged tables, the bridal party, numbering twelve being seated at one, and the remaining guests at another. Bouquets of lavender sweet peas formed charming centerpieces for the tables and accented the color note of the decorative scheme. The delicious dinner was served at 7 o'clock, after which the evening was spent informally.

The guests included in addition to the guests of honor, Mr. and Mrs. Preston C. Coast, Dr. and Mrs. D. W. Wylie, of New York City; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Currier, of Cleveland; Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Taylor, of Minneapolis; Mr. Henry Stack, of Owosso, Mich.; Miss Alice Coast, Mr. and Mrs. Henning Larson; Miss Dorothy Musser, Miss Miriam Chase, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Sproatt, Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Stevens and Dr. and Mrs. Robert Gibson.

Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 26, 1923⁴⁵³¹

Beautiful Church Wedding Unites Two Prominent Iowa City Families

Beautiful and distinctive in its array of rainbow colors in soft pastel shades, the wedding of Miss Marjorie Eames Coast, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Craft Coast, and Mr. Donald McClain, son of the late Chief Justice and Mrs. Emlin McClain, was impressively solemnized at the First Presbyterian church on Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock. Innumerable palms furnished a rich background of foliage, against the chancel rail and made a charming effect with the great masses of color of the large bouquets of gladioli, gracefully arranged in tall baskets in the foreground. The flowers were delicate shades of pink, white and lavender, and blended beautifully with the gowns of the bride's attendants.

Miss Miriam Chase, a sorority sister of the bride, and an accomplished organist, played a twenty-minute program of nuptial music preceding the ceremony and while the company of two hundred guests assembled at the church. At the first notes of the wedding march, two little girls, Miss Virginia Wylie, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. D. W. Wylie, of New York City, and Miss Louise Coast, daughter of Hon. and Mrs. William O. Coast, in dainty frocks of pale blue and yellow, stretched ribbons to form the aisle for the bride and her attendants. They were followed by the four ushers, Hon. William O. Coast, Mr. Henning Larsen, of Iowa City, Mr. Albert Currier, of Cleveland, and Mr. Ralph Reed, of Des Moines.

Mrs. Henning Larsen, a sister of Mr. McClain, as matron of honor, was becomingly gowned in orchid georgette and carried a beautiful bouquet of pale pink roses. Miss Dorothy Musser, who attended as bridesmaid, wore a gown of yellow georgette over cloth of gold, and arm bouquet of Ophelia roses completing her costume. Miss Alice Coast, a sister of the bride, wore pale green georgette, her flowers being pink roses which contrasted prettily with he gown. Winsome little Miss Mary Ellen Cost, a cousin of the bride, acted as ring bearer, wearing pale pink, and immediately preceded the bride, who entered on the arm of her father, being met at the altar by the bridegroom and his best man, Mr. Lewis Taylor, of Minneapolis.

The bride's gown was a beautiful creation of heavily beaded white georgette over white bridal satin hung from the shoulders. Her coronet veil was held in place with strands of pearls, and fell in graceful folds to the end of the train. She carried a lovely shower of Bride's roses and lilies of the valley, a beautiful platinum pin with diamond setting, a gift of the bridegroom, being her only ornament.The impressive marriage service was read by Dr.Dwight Witherspoon Wylie, of New York City, an uncle of the bride, and a former pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Iowa City.

At the conclusion of the nuptial service, a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents, at 530 North Clinton street, the guests including about sixty relatives and intimate friends. The rooms were attractively decorated with flowers, the dining room being especially effective in blue and pink, the colors of Mr. McClain's fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. A large crystal bowl of delphinia centered the table and was connected with smaller bouquets of delphinia and pink roses by tiny chains of crystal, four pink tapers giving an additional touch of color to the arrangement. A delicious buffet supper was served during the evening, which the young people spent dancing, Ogle's orchestra furnishing the music.

Out of town guests included Mr. Edward Murphy, of Vinton, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Barry Gilbert, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Reed, of Des Moines; Dr. and Mrs. D. W. Wylie of New York City; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Currier, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Taylor, of Minneapolis.

Both Mr. and Mrs. McClain are well known throughout the state, being prominent in collegiate and society circles in Iowa City and both being alumni of the State University of Iowa, the bride having been graduated in 1919, and the bridegroom in 1901 from the college of liberal arts, and in 1903 from the college of law. Mrs. McClain is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and after her graduation from the university studied art for a year under Professor A. C. Cummings of the university art department. During the past year, she has been laboratory assistant to Dr. C. P. Howard. Mr. McClain served for a time as city attorney and for a number of years practiced law in Des Moines, where he was popular with the social set. He is now the junior member of the law firm of Dutcher and McClain of Iowa City.

The young people left at midnight on a honeymoon trip through northern Michigan, several weeks of which will be spent at Mr. McClain's cottage near Mackinac. After September 1st, they will be at home to friends at 1008 East Burlington street.

• Marjorie Eames Coast and Donald McClain obtained a marriage license July 24, 1923 Johnson County, Iowa.⁴⁰³

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, September 2, 1908²¹³⁰

GIRL GETS CARNEGIE MEDAL.

Iowa City, Iowa, Sept. 2—A Carnegie silver medal has been received by Marjorie Coast, 11 years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Coast, who leaped into the Iowa river and saved the life of Margaret Hayes, daughter of Prof. and Mrs. Samuel Hayes, last summer.

Iowa City Press-Citizen, December 1, 1921

Miss Marjorie Coast left this morning for New York city, where she will spend the winter with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Witherspoon Wylie. Her mother, Mrs. Preston C. Coast, accompanied her as far as Chicago, where she will spend several days.

In farewell compliment to Miss Coast, Mrs. J. F. Sproatt informally entertained a small group of guests at a luncheon at the Hotel Jefferson, yesterday.

Iowa City Press-Citizen, August 4, 1924⁴⁰⁴

POPULAR YOUNG WOMAN IS DEAD

Mrs. Donald McClain Dies In University Hospital Today

Marjorie Coast McClain passed away at four o'clock this morning in the University hospital. Toxic poisoning was the direct cause of her death. Her husband, Donald McClain, her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Coast, and her sister, Alice Coast, were with her at the time of her death.

Her only other relatives in Iowa City are her uncle, W. O. Coast and his family. Mrs. Wylie, wife of Rev. D. W. Wylie of New York City is her aunt. Oscar R. Coast of Santa Barbara, California, is a great uncle.

Marjorie Coast McClain was born Sept. 11th, 1895, in Iowa City. She was graduated from the State University of Iowa in 1919, where she later held a position in the English department. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and active in all university affairs. After a year's study in New York she was in Dr. Howard's department in the University hospital in charge of the basal metabolic rate determination.

She was married to Donald McClain, son of Judge and Mrs. Emlin McClain of Iowa City, July 23rd, 1923. The funeral arrangements have not been made.

Iowa City Press-Citizen, August 6, 1924⁴⁰⁵

MARJORIE COAST McCLAIN

An Appreciation

After an unyielding battle of over ten weeks, Marjorie Coast McClain passed away at 4 o'clock Monday morning with the same sweetness and courage she had always shown throughout her life, and with the same calmness and serenity that had always marked her girlhood and later years.

A girl of most marked personality, of depth of soul and love of the beautiful, with a charm that no one who knew her could ever forget, she had, too, a mind of unusual intellectual powers. Her quick appreciation mentally of any question or subject that arose, made her a most interesting listener and companion. Her reading had been wide and of all the better things, so that no point or allusion escaped or went beyond her. Her love of literature was intense and her taste in it of the best.

Her every instinct was high and fine and she seemed intuitively to reach out and make her own all of the very best in all that she touched.

Her life was always unselfish and unassuming. It was largely lived for others. This trait was apparent when, only eleven years of age, alone with little playmates and unable to swim, without a moment's hesitation, she plunged into the Iowa river at its deepest point, out into the stream in water far above her depth and succeeded in resucing one of the children from drowning. Then without a word to anyone, she quietly slipped up the back way to her home, and her family never knew what she had done until they were told by others. When asked, "Why, Marjorie, were you not afraid?" she answered, "Why who else would have done it if I did not?" She had accepted the risk as being hers and the rescue as a thing, which, of course, had to be tried by her, whether she died or not. For this act, through the effort of the child's father, Judge Samuel Hayes, she was awarded a Carnegie medal for heroism.

In the home she was a constant source of inspriation and hope with her ever present smile and her eagerness to do more than her frail strength permitted. In her social life she gave from her keen mind with its wonderful sense of humor always more and more, to those about her. She was always dependable, sunny, mentally alert, sweet and unassuming, loyal to her friends and loyal to all her best self. No sweeter girl nor one of higher and finer ideals ever lived in Iowa City.

As a wife for one short year, she carried her rich personality and gifts into the making of a perfect home. She was buried this morning at 11 o'clock from the Coast home on North Clinton street, whence she went as a bride only a year ago, dressed in the same bride's gown she then wore.

Some deaths seem harder to bear, less understandable and more tragic than others. The passing of Marjorie Coast McClain is one of them.

B.G.

______

Beautiful Services Are Impressive

The funeral was marked by the simple, but impressive and beautiful ritualistic services of the Presbyterian church. They were conducted by Rev. Herbert L. Searles, the University pastor of the Presbyterian church.

The pallbearers were old friends of the deeply-mourned decedent — Senator Charles M. Dutcher, Attorney Fred L. Stevens, Dr. Robert Gibson, and Messrs. John Sproatt, Harry D. Breene, and W. Hal Stewart.