Poorly Written Obituaries

This obit appeared in the Tacoma-Seattle News Tribune today:

"Gladys E. Coffey 1918-2012 Moved to Tacoma in 1961. Worked 33 years for the Bell telephone. Married 59 yrs to Norman A. Survived by son Dennis and daughter in law Sandy, and grandson Chris."

It is just one example of the few hundred similarly written obituaries that I view every month from all over the US.

Do relatives just not care?

Or, have obits become too expensive to publish anything more than a blurb?

Either way, it's sinful!

Jack

William Harrison Parmley, Spouse of Sara Zerilda Coffey

WILLIAM H. PARMLEY

The farm and gin interests of Montague county, Texas, have an enterprising representative in the subject of this sketch, William H. Parmley.  He is a Kentuckian by birth and was born in Wayne County, September 13, 1858, son of Robert and Serilda (Strunk) Parmley, both natives of Kentucky.

Robert Parmley, Sr., grandfather of William H., was a Virginian and a great hunter who at an early day settled in the wilds of Kentucky, where he improved a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits extensively, having slaves to do his work.  He was twice married.  By his first wife the children were:  James, Garner, John, Washington, Lewis, Robert, Jr., Henderson, Giles, Mrs. Sidney Gan, and Mrs. Rebecca Rice.  Following are the names of the children by the second wife:  Mrs. Betty McBath.  William, Lad, Mrs. Abigail Winchester, Mrs. Ersley Stokes, Mrs. Vie Young, Mrs. Ellen Powers and H. Clay.

Robert Parmley, Jr., in his early manhood taught school for some years.  Although a southerner, he was a Union man, and two of his brothers, William and Lad, were Union soldiers.  He however took no part in the war.  He is politically a Democrat and was honored with official position in his native State, and also since his removal to Kansas.  He moved west in 1877 and settled in Cowley county, Kansas, where he improved a good farm and was for many years successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits.  Now at the age of eighty-two years, and still vigorous, he is living retired in Burden, that county.   Here he has served as justice of the peace and city judge.  He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and of the Masonic fraternity, and has long been known as a generous, big-hearted, broad-minded man with a character in every way above reproach.  His first wife died in 1879. She belonged to one of the early families of Kentucky; was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian church, and was a woman of lovely Christian character.  Little is known of her family history.  Fowlowing are the names of her children:  Mrs. Milda Rice James (deceased); William H.; John (deceased); Ned (deceased); Bell, wife of George R. McClelland, and Ellen, wife of M. Mackey.  The father subsequently married a Mrs. Burris, his present companion. 

William H. Parmley was seventeen when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas.  His education was received chiefly at home under his father's instruction and in the practical school of experience.  He assisted his father in the development of their farm in the new State of Kansas.  Then in 1880 he returned to Kentucky, married the sweetheart of his youth and took her back to Kansas with him. The next two years he was employed in breaking prairie with two yoke of oxen.  He rented land in Chautauqua county one year;  moved to Llano county, Texas, where he raised two crops; returned to Kansas, but soon came back Texas, this time settling in Montague county, where he bought eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added another eighty acres, and where he remained eight years.  His next move was to Indian Territory, but he did not remain there long.  Coming again to Montague County, he purchased land where he now resides.  To his original purchase here, one hundred and sixty acres, he has since added until he is now the owner of one thousand acres, 600 acres of which are under cultivation, most of which he rents, his chief products being corn and cotton.  His farm with its commodious, modern residence and other buildings, wind mill and fine water, large orchard of choice fruits, etc., is certainly an ideal country place.  In 1900 Mr. Parmley became interested in ginning.  He erected a gin with a daily capacity of twenty-five bales, to the operation of which he has since given his attention in ginning season.  It has been by his own energy and good management that Mr. Parmley has accumulated his estate since coming to Montague County, and he has well earned the title of self-made man.

Politically, Mr. Parmley is a Republican, posted and up-to-date in the country's progress and hopeful of Republican success in Texas.  He is one of the active members of the Farmer's Union, and both he and his wife are identified with the Missionary Baptist Church.

Of Mr. Parmley's domestic life, we record that he married Miss Serilda Coffee who was born in Kentucky, December 18, 1858, daughter of Jackson and Martha J. (Spann) Coffee, the former a native of Kentucky, the later of Tennessee. Her grandfather, Nathaniel Coffee, was a prominent farmer of Kentucky.  His children were:  Jackson; Cleve, one of the early settlers of Texas and William.  Jackson, a farmer in Kentucky until 1882, that year moved to Texas and settled in Hopkins county, where he spent two years; then came to Llano county, and two years later to Montague County, where he lived with his daughter for fifteen years.  He died here October 20, 1889. He was a plain, honest farmer, a member of the primitive Baptist church, and was highly respected by all who knew him.  His children in order of birth are:  Shelby, Lewis, Jack, Henry, and Willis, all deceased;  Samuel and Robert of Indian Territory;  Cleve, who resides with his sister, Mrs. Parmley;  Clay, who died in early life;  Eliza, wife of J. Kennett;  Mrs. Serilda Parmley;  and Mollie, deceased.  The children of Mr. and Mrs. Parmley are:  Robert, Leenora, Charles L., Thadeus, William F., Maud, Dosha and Lula S., all living at this writing except Lenora, who died at the age of three months.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas.
Captain B.B. Paddock, Editor, Illustrated Vol. II; 1906, The Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago & N.Y. Page 539-540
Thanks to Jacqueline Daffron for providing this info on 9/22/2012 - Click on title link to read earlier blog on this family.

Pulaski Patterson Campbell

The Campbell, Fitzgerald and Coffey families of Virginia will forever be entangled and no more so than in Nelson Co., VA.

 Pulaski Patterson Campbell was a son of Alexander and Elizabeth Fitzgerald Campbell.

Alexander was a son of Jesse C. ( for Coffey?) and Mary Campbell. Jesse C. was a son of John and Amelia "Milley" Coffey Campbell. Amelia was a daughter of Edmond S. and Nancy Barnett Coffey. Alexander married Elizabeth J. Fitzgerald on Aug. 31, 1857* in Nelson Co. Elizabeth was a daughter of Benjamin and Malinda Fitzgerald however, I have not yet looked for them.

There are very probably more children but, I know of only four for Alexander and Elizabeth, all born in Nelson Co.:

Sophia Jane, born c1857; Pulaski Patterson, born May 22, 1860, died Jan. 1, 1944; Matilda A., born c1861; and Melvina, born c1863.

Pulaski married Luticia Campbell on Feb. 14, 1883 in Nelson Co.  Some genealogies and at least one census record refers to her as Lucy.  She was the daughter of William and Susan Ann Mawyer Campbell.  William was the son of Joel and Nancy Coffey Campbell.  Nancy was the daughter of Edmond Steward Coffey, Jr. and his wife, Matilda "Tildy" Fitzgerald.  Edmond Stewart was brother to Amelia who married  Jesse C. Campbell.

Obituary for Pulaski and and Luticia:

Obituary, The News-Virginian, Jan. 4, 1944

A double funeral was held at Mt. Carmel near Steele's Tavern Sunday at 2:00 o'clock for Mr. and Mrs. Pulaski Patterson Campbell.

Mrs. Campbell died December 31st, at their home near Stuarts Draft with influenza. She was 76 years of age.

Mr. Campbell who had been ill for a number of years, died at their home Saturday, January 1st. He was 85 years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are survived by six sons, Burtie G. Campbell, William A. Campbell, Admiral D. Campbell, Churchill G. Campbell, Paul G. Campbell, and Hersey F. Campbell; three daughters, Sadie B. Coffey, Mattie H. Sorrells, and Lilly M. Bradley; and by 36 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Campbell is survived by one sister, Mrs. Mattie Tarry, of Stuarts Draft. Active pallbearers were: Raymond Campbell, Tinsley Campbell, Hardy Coffey, Johnnie Campbell, Eldridge Sorrells, Willie Campbell, Jerry Painter, Downie Painter, Elmer Lott, Ollie S. Lotts, Brent Coffey and Leftwick Campbell

Confused yet?  Yeah, me too!

Pulaski and Lutitia were parents of [probably] ten children:

1 - Siddie Belle, born Mar, 25, 1886 in Montebello, Nelson Co., died Jun. 9, 1973.  She married Massie Franklin Coffey on Sep. 28, 1908 in Nelson Co.  He was a son of Ryland and Martha Wyatt Fortune Coffey.  Massie was born Apr. 28, 1886 and died Sep. 22, 1973.  They are buried at Mount Carmel Presbyterian Cemetery at Steeles Tavern in Augusta Co., VA.  They were parents of at least eight children:  Dorothy, Genettie, Davis, Hugh, Sadie, Paul Hardy, Erskine, and Lorraine.  More info is available on request for some of these children.

2 - Bertie G., born Jan., 1887 in Montebello.  In at least one census he was enumerated as a female.  I believe he was male and will do more searching at a later date.

3 - Mattie Hall, born Apr. 7, 1889 in Montebello, died Jan. 27, 1977 in Waynesboro.  Mattie married Andrew Givens Sorrels, born c1874.  Andrew is said to be buried at the Pleas Taylor Family cemetery in Nelson Co.**  Mattie is buried at Augusta Memorial Park in Waynesboro.  Andrew was a son of George D. & Bethanie Fitzgerald Sorrels.

Her obituary:

Obituary, The News-Virginian, Jan. 28, 1977

Mrs. Mattie Hall Sorrells, 87, died at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in a local nursing home.  She was born in Montebello, April 7, 1889, a daughter of the late Pulaski P. and Luticia Campbell.  She was the widow of Andy Givens Sorrells, who died in May, 1943.

She is survived by two sons, Thurman E. Sorrells of Route 1, Grottoes, and Andy G. Sorrells Jr. of Richmond; one brother, Paul Gay Campbell of Amherst; one sister, Mrs. William H. (Lillie) Bradley of Waynesboro; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of the Etter Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. Bradford Moles, with interment in Augusta Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers will be Thurman Sorrells Jr., Michael Sorrells, Mitchell Sorrells, Leslie Sorrells, Kenneth Bradley and Erskine Coffey.  Honorary pallbearers will be nieces and nephews and friends attending the service.

The body will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 tonight.

4 - Sadie R., born Jun., 1892.  In 1910 she was enumerated as a male child named Will.

5 - Churchill Gardner, born Jun. 23, 1894 in Montebello, died Jun. 8, 1954 and buried at Mount Paran Baptist Church cemetery in Nelson Co.  Churchill married Lovie Dean Sorrels on Feb. 24, 1918*** in Nelson Co.  She was the daughter of Wilda Gay "Willie" and Martha Ida Fitzgerald Sorrels.  Lovie died on Sep. 3, 1968 and is also buried at Mount Paran.  Their children were:  Gardner; Wildie, Martha, and Estie.

6 - George O., born Dec., 1896 in Montebello.  In the 1910 census this child was named Dewey.

7 - Paul Gay, born Apr. 2, 1899, died Dec. 15, 1977 and buried at Jonesboro Baptist Church cemetery at Jonesboro, Nelson Co.  Paul was married c1927 to Mazie G. Taylor, a daughter of Lafayette Givens and Lillie May Coffey Taylor.  Mazie was born on Aug. 13, 1911 in Nelson Co. and died on Jan. 31, 2005.  She is also buried at Jonesboro.  I know of one child, Paul, born c1933 in Nelson Co.

8 - Huey S., born Feb., 1900.

9 - Hercy F., born c1902.  Missing from family in 1910 census.

10 - Lillie M., born c1904.   Also missing from family in 1910 census.

Pulaski and Lutitia can be found in Massies Mill census records from 1900 through 1940.

More work needs to be done on this family.  Additions and corrections welcomed.

Jack

PS:  Re: Jonesboro cemetery.  References that I have found to this cemetery on Find-A-Grave place it at Roseland, in Nelson Co.  Searching Google maps for Roseland and Jonesboro revealed that they are more or less wide spots along the Patrick Henry Hwy. and, about a mile or so apart.  I have chosen to use Jonesboro as the home of this cemetery because that's where it's located and, Jonesboro is the name of the church.

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 *Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940; Index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRZB-D6T : accessed 19 Sep 2012), Alex Campbell and Eliz. J. Fitzgerald, 31 Aug 1857; citing reference pg 5 ln 18, FHL microfilm 32734.

**Lynn Coffey, editor, "Backroads," privately published newspaper, published at Love, Nelson Co., VA, 1981-2006., Vol. 18, No. 226, Nov., 2000, Page 9.

*** Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, Index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRZ5-T5H : accessed 19 Sep 2012), Churchill G. Campbell and Lovey D. Sorrels, 24 Feb 1918; citing reference p 159 ln 13, FHL microfilm 32734.

James Whisenant & Amanda Starnes Coffey

James Whisenant* Coffey was a son of John Davidson Coffey of Ashe Co., NC and, Mary Ann Whisenant of Kentucky.  James was born in Indiana in July, 1846 and died in Ellettsville, Monroe Co., IN on Nov. 28, 1937.  Amanda Starnes was born Feb., 1844 in IN and died in Ellettsville on Jan. 12, 1909.  James and Amanda were married in Indiana on Mar. 16, 1865.**  Both are buried at the Ellettsville Methodist Church Cemetery.

James and Amanda had at lest two children, both sons.***  The eldest was Dora Sherman, born Jul., 1867 and died Dec. 29, 1890.  According to his memorial page on Find-A-Grave, Dora

"was one of the casualties of the "Massacre at Wounded Knee" in South Dakota on Dec. 29, 1890. 1st Sergeant Dora S. Coffey was a member of the 7th Cavalry, Company B. He was originally buried at the Military Cemetary in Pine Ridge, South Dakota but disenterred by his family in Jan. 1891 and presumably moved to Indiana to be reburied in the family burial plot."

He is now buried at Ellettsville Methodist with his parents.  He apparently never married.

George was the second known (to me) child of James and Amanda.  He was born on Apr. 9, 1868 in Monroe Co. and died in Ellettsville on Jul. 19, 1965.  He and Della Jane Billings, a daughter of Francis Marion and Rachel Ann Williams Billings, were married in Monroe Co. on May 13, 1890.  She was born in Monroe Co. in Oct., 1870 and died in Ellettsville on Jan. 2, 1951.  They too are buried at Ellettsville Methodist.

Della and George named the first of their three children after George's brother, Dora Sherman.  That son was born Jan. 1, 1891 in Indiana and died in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI on Sep. 11, 1958.  He married Bertha Irena (or, Irene) Stanger on Jul. 19, 1911 in Monroe Co., IN.  She was born on Jan. 25, 1892 in Ellettsville and died Apr. 19, 1987 in Clarkston, Asotin Co., WA.  I know of one child, Lois Jean, born Jun. 17, 1912 in Monroe Co., died Oct. 11, 1999 in Ellettsville.  Lois married Thomas Lee Litten, born Feb. 16, 1911 in Monroe Co., on Jun. 18, 1932 in Martinsville, Morgan Co.  He was a son of William Elmer and Goldie A. Amelick Litten.  Thomas died on Apr. 9, 1999 in Ellettsville.  Both are buried at Ellettsville Methodist.

Their second son was Frederick "Fred" M., born Aug., 1893 in Monroe Co., and died there in 1917.  He is not known to have married.  He is also at Ellettsville Methodist.

The third child was Nellie A., born Apr. 27, 1896 in Monroe Co., died Aug. 22, 1988 in Bloomington, Monroe Co.  Nellie married Joseph Carl Crum, a son of Harvey and Clara Viola Crum on May 25, 1916 in Monroe Co.  He was born Apr. 18, 1895 in Monroe Co. and died in Ellettsville on Aug. 19, 1959.  They too are at Ellettsville Methodist.  Their children were:  Mary Jane, married Robert N. Robinson; Fredrick [sic] G. "Fred,"; and Robert R.  Robert died on Aug. 4, 1986 in Peru, Miami Co., IN and is buried at Ever Rest Memorial Park in Logansport, Cass Co., IN.

Visit Elletsville Methodist on Find-A-Grave to view memorials to those families mentioned here.

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*Sometimes found as Whisenand.
**Indiana Marriage Records Index, 1845-1920;.Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.  James W Coffey Spouse Name: Amanda Starnes Marriage Date: 16 Mar 1865 Book: 4 Page: 338
***In the 1900 census Amanda reported that she was the mother of 2, only 1 was then living.

Death Certificates Say The Darndest Things!

Squire Coffey, a son of Marvel and Rachel Boone Coffey, died at the age of 84 on Sep. 8, 1912 in Weaubleau, Hickory Co., MO and was buried at the Robinson Cemetery in Collins, St. Clair Co., MO.  The death certificate reports that he died of diarrhea.

The doctor who signed the death certificate was Dr. W. S. Woodford of  Weaubleau.  Across the certificate in the area where Dr. Woodford made his entry, is written:

"You will have to make the best of this diagnosis for Dr. W.S.W. is too ignorant to do better." 

That was followed by the initials W. C. G.  W. C. Gentry was the registrar.

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Squire was married to Drucilla Parker in MO c1854.  She was the daughter of Henry and Martha Roberson Parker and was born in TN on Dec. 18, 1833 and died in MO on Aug. 20, 1901.  She too is buried at Robinson cemetery in Collins.

The likely had more children, but I have found only six:

Matilda Jane, born Ar. 16, 1854 in Maries Co., MO, died Sep. 1, 1929 in Union Twp., Pulaski Co., MO.  Her spouse was James Moss, the informant listed on Squire's death certificate.  James was the son of Edward and Mary Roberson Moss, and was born May 23, 1851 in MO, died May 24, 1914 in Dixon, Pulaski Co.  He and Matilda were married May 23, 1851 in Maries Co.  Both are buried at the Dixon cemetery.  Their children were:

Ada Alfreda, born Feb. 2, 1872 in Maries Co., died Apr. 21, 1948 in Waynesville, Pulaski Co.  Ada married George Edward Murphy c1891.  He was born Dec. 9,1871 in Vienna, Maries Co., to John Henry and Mary Dickinson Murphy.  He died Dec. 28, 1949 in Lebanon, Laclede Co., MO.  Both are buried at Dixon.  I have their children as Ethel, Gertrude and Evelyn.

Emmit, born Sep., 1879, married May 20, 1936 in Phelps Co., MO to Nelle Draper.  She was born Oct. 14, 1876 in Burlington, Coffey Co., KS and died Dec. 3, 1957 in Rolla, Phelps Co.  She is buried at Dixon.  Emmit is like buried there as well; I just haven't found him yet.

Jesse Moore, born Aug., 1883, died Mar. 8, 1949 in Alton, Madison Co., IL.  He married Clara F. Dunlop, born Feb., 1885 in KS to George W. and Anna B. Shriver Dunlop.  Jesse is buried at Dixon.

Jesse's obituary, Granite City, Madison Co., IL Press Record, Mar. 10, 1949

Jesse M. Moss, 66, of 2137 Madison Avenue, well-known local sportsman and restaurant owner who developed and introduced his own barbecue sauce in the Quad-Cities, was buried at Dixon, Mo, this afternoon following services at a funeral home there.  Moss passed away at 1:30 am Tuesday at an Alton hospital following a short illness.  He had retired two years ago after operating a restaurant at the Madison Avenue address for 25 years.  Moss, who was an active hunter and fisherman, held the patent on Old Kentucky Famous Reheating Sauce, which was sold over a wide area.  He retained the patent and the product went off the market after his retirement.  A native of Dixon, MO, Moss had been a resident of Granite City for the past 48 years.  His only survivors are his wife, Mrs. Clara Dunlap Moss and a brother, Emmet, of Rolla, Mo.

Information about the remaining children of Squire and Drucilla is available on request.

Jack

George Edward & Lillie Mae Coffey Kimmel

In August of last year I wrote a short blog about this family

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George E. Kimmel Death Certificate

George Edward Kimmel, sometimes Kimmell, was born in TX on Jul. 7, 1879.  From his death certificate we learn that his father was John but his mother's name was not given.  We also know that he died by suicide when he took a "...concentration of arsenic" and was dead on arrival at the Granberry, Morris Co., TX Memorial Hospital on Sep. 16, 1959.

He and Lillie were married on Nov. 2, 1902 in Morris Co.  She was the daughter of John M. and Mary Ellen Ragland Coffey, born Sep. 11, 1884.  Her obituary tells us that her parents were one of the pioneer settlers of the Concord community of Omaha.

Her obituary:

Mrs. George E. Kimmell died at her family home in the Concord community at 2 o'clock Wednesday night of last week from the effects of pneumonia. Lille Mae, daughter of the late John M. and Mary Coffey, pioneer settlers of the Concord community, was born September 11, 1884.  

She was married to George E. Kimmell in 1902, and they established their family home in the same community in which she was reared.  To this union was born three children.

Surviving to mourn the death of their loved one is her Husband; one son, John Kimmell, two daughters, Mrs. Merl Beasley and Mrs. Willie Boozer, all of the Concord community; three brothers, W.E. Coffey ofQuanah, R.N. Coffey of Dallas, and H. B. Coffey of Fort Worth; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Ledbetter and Mrs. Virgil Leeves of Dallas; and five grandchildren.

Funeral rites were conducted from the Concord church by Rev. A.J. Findley at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon.  Burial was made in the Concord cemetery beneath a mound of beautiful flowers.

The three children were:

John Edward, born Aug. 17, 1903, died Oct. 4, 1959 in Omaha. His spouse was Pauline Ponder.  John is buried at the Omaha Cemetery in Morris Co.  I know of one child, Patsy Ann.

Sybil Meadow, born Nov. 18, 1904 in Omaha, died there on Jan. 3, 1999.  She married William Murl Beasley on Jul. 3, 1922. He was born in 1903 and died in Omaha in 1991.  I know of two children: Willie Carl, born 1923 and Thomas Edward, born 1928.  Sybil and William are buried at the Concord community cemetery near Omaha.

Alice Marie, born Nov. 7, 1907, died in Ajo, Pima Co., AZ on Nov. 28, 1953.  She married Willie Boozer, born 1910, died in Omaha in 1971. They too are buried at Concord.

Coleman & Rosa "Rosey" Burks Coffey

A reader recently wrote asking about the Coleman Coffey family of Wayne and McCreary Counties in KY. Until now I had not written much, if anything in my blog about Coleman.  The following represents what information I have found.

Additional information about connecting families can be found at the following links:

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2011/11/sheridan-l-sherd-sarah-sally-coffey.html

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2010/11/sheridan-l-sherd-dobbs-sarah-sally.html

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2007/11/truesdell-coffey-1941-2007.html

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Coleman was the eldest son of Henry Baker and Sarah Elizabeth Dobbs Coffey.  According to information found on his death certificate he was born Nov. 8, 1869 in KY and died in Co-operative, McCreary Co. on Oct. 26, 1948 and was buried at  Sherd Dobbs Cemetery in Stearns.

Rosa or "Rosey" was a daughter of Benjamin Richard and Rebecca Jane Vaughn Burks.  According to her death certificate, Rosa was born Apr. 30, 1875 in Wayne Co. and died in McCreary Co. on Mar. 18, 1942.  She too is buried at Sherd Dobbs Cemetery.

Info provided by others report that Coleman and Rosa were married on Mar. 1, 1891 in KY but, omits the county.  They are said to have had at least nine children, all born in Kentucky between 1892 and 1913.

William Gaines was the first, born Feb. 25, 1892, died Jul. 20, 1963 in McCreary Co.  His first wife was Kizzie Coffey, born May 19, 1901 in McCreary Co., died there on Apr. 8, 1949.  She the daughter of George Washington Coffey and wife Margery "Sis" Troxell and, first cousin to William; their father's were brothers.

To them was born Harrison, Mar 2, 1919, died in Pulaski Co., KY on Aug. 16, 1983, and buried at Sherd Dobbs; Bertie, born c1922 and Martha, born c1926.  I know nothing more about these children.

Both William and Kizzie are buried at Sherd Dobbs.

William married second to Alice Phillips, a daughter of Pate and Elizabeth Cox Phillips.  According to her obituary and the 1940 McCreary Co. census, Alice was born c1935.  She died on Oct. 9, 1978 in Springfield, Clark Co., OH and was buried at Sherd Dobbs.

Alice Coffey, 43, Springfield, Ohio, died Oct. 9 in Springfield.  Funeral services were conducted Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. at Hickman Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Earl Davis officiating.  Burial was in Sherd Dobbs Cemetery.

She was born in 1935 in McCreary County to the late Pate and Elizabeth Cox Phillips.  Her husband, Gaines Coffey, preceded her in death.  She lived here for many years and was a homemaker.

Survivors include her children, Gaines Coffey, Jr., Somerset, Mrs. Bertha Carroll, Covington, Dean and Linda Coffey, both of Dayton, Ky., and Herman Mark Hughes, Smithtown.  One brother, Lloyd Phillips, Cincinnati and two sisters, Flossie Clark, Dayton, Ky., and Lola Irvin, Eaton, Ohio.

Hickman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The child Herman Mark Hughes may be a step-son from a marriage subsequent to the death of William in 1963.

The second child born to Coleman and Rosa was Ada J., born May 4, 1896, died Jan. 15, 1971 in McCreary Co.  Her husband was John Sherman Dobbs, a son of Stephen Tolbert and Mary Gregory Dobbs.  They were married in KY on Oct. 8, 1912.  Sherman was born Aug. 11, 1885 in Wayne Co. and died in Oneida, Scott Co., TN on Dec. 23, 1968.

Sherman Dobbs, life long resident of the Cooperative community, died Saturday December 23,1968, in Scott County Hospital, Oneida, Tenn.

Mr Dobbs, 82, a retired coal miner, had been ill for more than a year. The deceased was born August 11, 1885, in Wayne County, the son of the late Tolbert Dobbs and Polly Ann Gregory Dobbs. He was a member of the New Haven Baptist Church at Cooperative.

Surviving are his wife, Ada Coffey Dobbs, one daughter, Mrs. Lillie Bell, Muncie, two sons, Dewey Dobbs, Muncie and Roy Dobbs, Cooperative; two brothers, Jeff Dobbs, Monticello, and Albert Dobbs, Cooperative.

Funeral services were held on Christmas Day at 1 o'clock in the afternoon with Rev. Robert Jones and Rev. Earl Davis officiating. Burial was in the Sherd Dobbs Cemetery with Hickman Funeral Home in charge. His grandsons served as pall bearers.

I have their children as:  Roy, born Oct. 30, 1913, died Apr. 26, 1988 in Pulaski Co., KY; Lillie, born Sep. 16, 1915 in Wayne Co.; Dewey, born Oct. 13, 1917 in McCreary Co.; an unnamed child born Nov. 1, 1926; Ida Dester, born and died Mar. 20, 1932 in McCreary Co.; and Hubert, born Feb. 28, 1938, died Oct. 20, 1936 in McCreary Co.

The third child was Sarah E., born Mar. 14, 1898, died Apr. 1, 1984 in McCreary Co.  Her husband was Rhodes Bell, born Mar. 6, 1893 in KY, died Nov. 8, 1977 in Oneida, TN.  Both buried at Sherd Dobbs.

Two children following Sarah was Rosie, born c1902 and Henry, born c1904.  No further information.

Lona was child number six.  She was born on Apr. 30, 1905 and died Jun. 12, 1989.  She married Thomas Gregory, perhaps some kin to Mary Gregory Dobbs, wife of Stephen Tolbert Dobbs.  Thomas was born Feb. 26, 1903 and died May 23, 1967 in McCreary Co.  He and Lona are buried at Sherd Dobbs.

Their children, all born in McCreary Co. were:  Austin, born Jul. 10, 1926, died Dec. 6, 1958.  His wife was Juanita Roberts; Ray, born May 28, 1928, died Feb. 8, 2000 in Clermont Co., OH; Betty M., born c1935; Ina, born c1937; Lona, born c1939 and Donald Lee, born Mar. 24, 1948, died Aug. 22, 1997.

Child seven was Wilburn, born Jun. 7, 1908, died Mar. 16, 1977 in Pulaski Co.  He married Roxie Gregory, a daughter of Obie and Laurie Dobbs Gregory.  Roxie was born Feb. 12, 1910 and died in McCreary Co. on Sep. 29, 1978.

Eva, born Jan. 14, 1912, was child number eight.  I have no other information on her.

The last child was George H., born Aug. 24, 1913, died Mar. 27, 1967.  George married Lucy Haynes on Dec. 28, 1946 at Hill Top in McCreary Co. I am told that Gary T. Coffey, born Mar. 30, 1962, died Apr., 1962 was one of their children.  Lucy is said to have married Lee Sosh after the death of George.  She died on Jun. 14, 1991 and is buried at Sherd Dobbs.  Lucy was the daughter of Albert L. and Cora Tucker Haynes

Corrections and additions welcomed!