Margaret Josephine Coffey Farley (1936-2012)

Margaret Josephine Coffey

I first met Margaret when she wrote to me some years ago, offering information about her Coffey family of western North Carolina.  I soon learned that Margaret knew more about Coffey families in that part of the state than just her immediate ancestry.  She once sent to me a large box of newspaper articles, and some very old and yellowed obituaries and photos that she had collected over the years. She included photos of her family and stories that only someone who had lived them could relate.  Margaret was very proud of her family and never missed an opportunity to tell me about her brothers who had served so proudly in the Marine Corps, and her several sisters who had preceded her in death.

She loved North Carolina and especially the western part in Watauga and Caldwell counties. She often talked of Coffeys Gap, the people who lived there and, their old home places that no longer exist.

She was the third of seven children born to Clayton McDonald "Mack" and Lany Esther McCroskey Coffey, born Apr. 27, 1936 in Princeton, Mercer Co., WV.  She married twice, first to Kinney Eugene Ellis and second to Vivian Edward Farley, Jr. in 1972.  Mr. Farley died in Princeton in 1976 and Margaret never remarried.

A few years ago my wife and I were returning to Louisiana from a Coffey Cousins' reunion in VA and decided to go visit with Margaret in Winston-Salem.  She welcomed us with a home cooked meal and we got to meet Steve.  She gave us a tour of her modest home, filled with antiques and other treasures that she had collected over her lifetime.

We had remained in contact on Facebook and e-mail.  Now and again she would send me obituaries that she had found on line about Coffeys and related families in western NC.

I will miss her very much.

Her obituary:

Margaret C. Farley Posted Date: December 13, 2012

(April 27, 1936 - December 13, 2012)

Margaret Coffey Farley, age 76, of West Acadia Avenue, Winston-Salem, and formerly of Blowing Rock, went to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday, December 13, 2012.

Born April 27, 1936 in Princeton, WV, she was the daughter of the late Clayton McDonald and Esther McCroskey Coffey. Margaret was a devoted and loving wife, a good sister, and a wonderful aunt and friend to everyone.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Farley; sisters, Bertha Mae Akers, Nellie Aileen Coffey; and brothers, James Edward, Lonnie Ray, and Clayton Coffey.

Mrs. Farley is survived by survived by her special nephew, Steve Coffey; sister, Gladys Virginia Coffey Bailey; six step-children; eleven step-grandchildren; four step-great grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy McBride, and Jewell Nelson and husband, Charles. A number of nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, and special little ones 'Waylon' and Justin.

Services to celebrate the life of Margaret Coffey Farley will be conducted Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 2 PM at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Max West. The family will receive friends Sunday from 1 until 2 o'clock at Austin & Barnes.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at the website austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Farley family.

Rest in peace Margaret.  Your earthly work is over and it is now time to rejoice in that place which Jesus has prepared for you.

Jack

Samuel and Ella Nore (Noria) Wright McCroskey

Noria was a daughter of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright. According to the Caldwell Co., NC Register of Deeds, she was born c1879 in that county. She died there on Dec. 18, 1942.1

Sarah first married Henderson Phillips in Watauga Co., NC on Oct. 16, 1896.2 I have no information on Henderson but, do not believe any children were born to this union. Sarah's second husband was Samuel Wiley McCroskey, born Apr. 10, 1869 in Bluff City, Sullivan Co., TN, died Apr. 14, 1926 in Caldwell Co., NC.

Samuel had been previously married to Eva Trique3 [sic] on Mar. 7, 1896 in Knox Co., TN. I have no information of Eva and, to my knowledge there were no children.

In the June 1900 Knox Co., TN census Noria was found in the household with the Ed. Haupt family, her sister and brother-in-law. She was enumerated as 21 years old and single. She married Samuel, and by 1910 they are in Caldwell Co. where they lived out the remainder of their lives.

Noria died Dec. 18, 1942 and was buried in the Boone Fork Baptist Church cemetery in Watauga Co. Sam died well before that, on Apr. 14, 1926. He too is buried at Boone Fork.

Sam and Noria had at least eight children:

1 - Raymond R., born May, 1902, died Feb. 16, 1926

2 - Mae, born Jul. 11, 1904, died Jul. 17, 1983. She married Samuel Woodie (date unk) and gave birth to at least five children: Wyley, Odis Eugene, Esta, Roy and Ernest, all born between c1922 and c1928, and probably all in Avery Co. Sam died in Jul., 1966 and May in Jul., 1983.

3 - Lula Nevada, born Apr. 15, 1907, died May 2, 1987 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co. She apparently married very late in life to Floyd Whisenant. She is buried at Boone Fork.

Her obituary:

Mrs. Lula McCroskey Whisenant, 80, of Route 1, Blowing rock, a former resident
of Colletsville, died Saturday evening, May 2, at Blowing Rock Hospital after a long illness. Mrs. Whisenant was the widow of Floyd Whisenant and was a member of the Boone Form Baptist Church. She was born April 15, 1907 in Caldwell County, a daughter of the late Wiley and Ella Nora Wright McCroskey. Surviving are several nieces and nephews, including the Mae Woodie family of Jonas Ridge, the Ester and Mack Coffey family and the Earl and Mary Lois McCroskey family of Blowing Rock and the Edith Townsend family and Lawrence McCroskey family of Lenoir. Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 at the Boone Form Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 11:30 until 2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Everett Little. Burial will follow in the Boone Fork Cemetery. The family will receive friends this evening from 7 until 9 at Reins-Sturdivant. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

4 - Earl Lemuel, born Feb., 1909, died Jan., 19675 in Caldwell Co. Earl married Gladis [sic] L. Hatley in 1929 at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co. Gladis was the daughter of Jackson Sidney (Jack) and Drusilla Phillips Hatley. I am not yet certain whether Gladis died or, if they were divorced. Together, they had at least four children: Dorothy Louise, Roger, Daniel and David. Earl married for a second time to Mary Lois Coffey, a daughter of Thomas Leroy (Tom) and Alice Sanders Coffey. Mary was born Mar. 10, 19264 in Caldwell Co., and died Apr. 16, 2005 in Blowing Rock. Mary and Earl are buried at White Springs Cemetery in Watauga Co.

Mary's obituary:

Mrs. Mary Lois McCroskey, 79, of 6130 Highway 221 South, Blowing Rock, died
Saturday night, April 16, 2005, at Blowing Rock Hospital. She was born March 10, 1926, in Caldwell County, a daughter of the late Thomas LeRoy and Alice Sanders Coffey. Mrs. McCroskey was a member of First Independent Baptist Church in Blowing Rock. Survivors include two daughters, Estie Ruppard and husband, Dwight, of Blowing Rock, and Joy Martinez and husband, Tony, of Granite Falls; one son, Mitchell Coffey of Blowing Rock; two step-sons, Roger McCroskey and Daniel McCroskey, both of Hudson. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl McCroskey; one daughter, Jessie Price; one step-daughter, Louise Harrison; one step-son, David McCroskey; two granddaughters, Lisa and Tammy Coffey; four sisters; and four brothers. Services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 1-2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Darrell Miller and the Rev. Vance Triplett. Burial will follow in White Springs Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday afternoon from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home, prior to the service. At other times, friends may call at the McCroskey residence, 6130 Highway 221 South, Blowing Rock. Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

The children of Earl and Mary Lois were three:

Jesse Irene, born Feb. 6, 1946, died Jul. 30, 1997; Estie Rosie, born Feb. 23, 1952; and Joy Lela, born Feb. 8, 1962.

5 - Lany Esther married Clayton McDonald (Mack) Coffey in Mountain City, Johnson Co., TN. Lany was born Dec. 13, 1910 in Watauga Co., and died there on Jun. 7, 1978. She is buried at Boone Fork. She and Mack had eight children. More info can be found by clicking on Lany's link.

6 - Edward Lawrence, born Mar. 15, 19156 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 11, 1941 in Bluefield, Mercer Co., WV. He married Jackie [or perhaps Lockie] Delana Hatley, another daughter of Jack and Drusilla Phillips Hatley. They had at least two children: Edward Dean and Pansy.

7 - Virgia Edith, born Apr. 10, 1917 in Caldwell Co., died Nov. 12, 1970 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. She was first married to Wilburn Clarence (Web) Townsend c1937. Their children were at least seven: Ethel Delana, born 1937, died 1964, married Forest Columbus Crisp; Wilburn Eugene, born Aug. 1939, died Mar. 2007; James Robert, born Jan., 1941, died 2000; Thomas Earl, born Sep., 1942, died 1944; Frances Mae, born Dec. 1944, married Robert Rash; Murray, born Jul., 1946; and Jerry Wilson, born Apr., 1952, married Wanda Hatley. Web had been previously married to Bessie Bennett.

8 - Roy Lois, born Oct. 27, 19217, died Jul. 15, 1970

Sources:

1 North Carolina Vital Records, Raleigh, North Carolina. and North Carolina Archives and Records Section. North Carolina County Records, 1908-1967. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.

2 Marriage Register of Watauga County, North Carolina 1873-1954 (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Dept. of Hist., Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC, 1995)

3 As spelled on marriage license; copy in my possession

4 Register of Deeds. North Carolina Birth Indexes; Roll Number: B_C017_66001 Volume: 13 Page: 103

5 ibid, Death Index, Book 54, Page 190

6 ibid, Birth Index, Roll B_C017_66001 Volume: 2 Page: 4

7 ibid, Birth Index, Book 8, Page 121

8 North Carolina Vital Records, Raleigh, North Carolina. and North Carolina Archives and Records Section. North Carolina County Records, 1908-1967. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Please contact me at the e-mail address below to add to or correct any of this information.

The Wright, McCroskey and Coffey Families

Sarah Ellenora (Ellie) Wright was born Jan. 26, 1877 in Caldwell Co., NC to the union of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright. She was the fourth of their nine children, and their third daughter to that time.

She married Samuel Wiley McCroskey in Nov., 1900 in Knox Co., TN. He was born Apr. 10, 1869 in Bluff City, Sullivan Co., TN and died Apr. 14, 1926 in Burke Co., NC.

To the union was born eight children:

Raymond McCroskey, born May 1902, died Feb. 16, 1926

Mae McCroskey, born Jul. 11, 1904,died Jul. 17, 1983. Mae married Samuel Woodie who died Jul. 11, 1966.

Lula Nevada McCroskey, born Apr. 15, 1907

Earl Lemuel McCroskey, born Feb. 1909, died Jan., 1967. Earl married Mary Lois Coffey, a daughter of Thomas Leroy and Alice Sanders Coffey. Mary was born Mar. 10, 1926 in Caldwell Co., NC and died Apr. 16, 2005 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC. Their children were Jessie Irene, born 1946; Estie Rosie, born 1952; and Joy Lela, born 1962.

Lany Esther married Clayton McDonald (Mack) Coffey, a son of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine (Josie) Dellinger. Lany was born Dec. 13, 1910 in Coffey's Gap, Watauga Co., and died Jun. 7, 1973 in North Carolina. Clayton was born Jun. 1, 1903 in Avery Co., NC and died Jun. 11, 1992 in Watauga Co. I do not have a marriage date or place for them. Their children were: Bertha May; Gladys Virginia; Nellie Alliene; James (Jim) Edward; Margaret Josephine; Clayton McDonald, Jr.; Lonnie Ray; and Steven.

Lawrence Edward, born Mar. 15, 1915

Virgie Edith, born Apr. 10, 1917, died Nov. 12, 1970

Roy Lois, born Oct. 27, 1921, died Jul., 1970

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections.

Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine Dellinger Coffey

Corrected and updated July 19, 2007

This photograph is of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine (Josie) Dellinger Coffey. With them is their grand-daughter, Linda Thompson, child of Sam and Josie's daughter Minnie who married William Thompson.

Samuel was born Jan. 17, 1881 in North Carolina, a son of Eldelano (L.D.) Coffey and Mary E. Austin. He died Aug. 20, 1970 in North Carolina.

Josie was born Jan. 1, 1883 in North Carolina, a daughter of Thomas and Eveline McKinney Dellinger. She died Mar. 19, 1979 in North Carolina.

Sam and Josie were parents of twelve children:

• Clayton McDonald (Mack), born Jun. 1, 1903, died Jun. 11, 1992 married Lany Esther McCroskey in Mountain City, Johnson Co., TN. They had eight children: Bertha May, Gladys Virginia, Nellie Alilene, James Edward (Jim), Margaret Josephine, Clayton McDonald, Jr., and Lonnie Ray. Another son, born 1959, was Steven who was adopted by Clayton and Lany.
• Alberta (Bertie), married three times. Her first husband was Andrew Jackson (Andy) Jennings with whom she had eight children: Essie (?), Pansy, Claude, Paul Van, Mable Christine, Peggy Ann, Essie and Virginia Dare. Her second husband was Abner J. Loudermilt with whom she had one child, Ronnie, born c1927. Her third husband was Clyde Johnson with whom she had one child, Essie.
• Robin
• Minnie married William L. Thompson Sep., 1934 in Watauga Co. They had at least four children: Carolyn, J. T., Charles, and Linda.
• Lydia Eva, born Jul. 29, 1914, married William Thurman Gragg. Children were: Harold, Beauford Dean, Lewis Dayton, Jack, Niola and Richard.
• Wilson Woodrow, born Sep. 26, 1916, died Jun. 21, 1994, married Ethel Vada Coffey, daughter of Thomas Leroy (Tom) and Alice Sanders Coffey. Their children were: Douglas, Daniel, Emma Elizabeth, Maude Aleen, Betty Ann, Dennis Charles, and Rebecca Kay.
• Woodrow Wilson, born Sep. 26, 1916, died c1932
• Reubin
• Oscar Joseph, born Dec. 2, 1917
• Deatte Elsie, born May 29, 1920, married first to Lonnie Byrd and had one child, Lonnie, Jr. She married second to Howard Milton Bolick and had five children: Phyllis Ann, Gerald Keith, Sheldia Jean, Thomas Dale and Gail.
• Alfred Boyd, born May 21, 1922 married Mary Etheline Woodie and had children: Kathleen Mary, Lela Ann, Alfred Jr., John Samuel, Roger Dallas, Deborah Kay, and Linda Bernice.
• Pauline, born Dec. 21, 1924, married Otis Arthur Bell and had children: Bobbie Jean, Otis Wayne, Rhonda Gene and Chris Allen.

Additional information is available. Please send additions and/or corrections to me at the e-mail address below.

James Edward Coffey (1934-2004)

James Edward Coffey was the fourth child and oldest son of Clayton McDonald (Mack) and Lany Esther McCroskey Coffey. He was born Sep. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC and died Jan. 11, 2004 in Crestview, Okaloosa Co., FL.

Obituary, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV, Jan. 16, 2004, and the Lenoir News-Topic, Jan. 17, 2004

James E. Coffey

CRESTVIEW, Fla. - James E. Coffey, MSGT, USMC, retired, 69, of Crestview, passed away Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004.

He was born on Sept. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, N.C., and moved to Crestview 17 years ago from Matoaka. He retired from USMC after 27 years of service.

Mr. Coffey was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Lonnie Ray Coffey and Clayton Coffey Jr.; one sister: Mrs. Floyd (Nellie) Coffey; two sons: Rocky and Carl Gene Coffey.

Survivors include his three sons: Curt Coffey of Fallbrook, Calif., Steven Coffey of Blowing Rock, Brad Coffey of Carlsbad, Calif.; three sisters: Mrs. Vencil (Bertha) Akers of Cambridge, Md., Virginia Bailey of Qwinton, Va., Margaret Farley of Blowing Rock; friend: Kim Staley of Crestview; numerous other family members.

Graveside services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Barrancas National Cemetery with military honors.

The family will receive friends today from 5-7 p.m. at the Brackney Funeral Home in Crestview.

Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements

.

Clayton McDonald Coffey (1903-1992)

Clayton McDonald (Mack) Coffey was born Jun. 1, 1903 in Avery Co., NC. He was the first child and oldest son of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine Dellinger Coffey.

He married Lani Esther McCroskey and they were the mother of my Watauga Co., NC correspondent, Margaret Coffey Farley. Lani Esther was born Dec. 13, 1910 in Coffey's Gap, Watauga Co.

Clayton and Esther's children were:

- Bertha May, who married Vencil Akers
- Gladys Virginia, who married Sherman Eugene Bailey
- Nellie Alilene, who married Floyd Carl Coffey, son of Thomas Leroy and Alice Sanders Coffey. Floyd and Nellie were very distant cousins.
- James Edward, who married 1) Estelle Levy, 2) Yaeshie Yong
- Margaret Josephine, who married 1) Kinney Eugene Ellis, 2) Vivian Edward Farley
- Clayton McDonald
- Lonnie Ray, who married 1) Arlene Dishner, 2) Dorothy Creighton*
- Steven, an adopted son

Photos courtesy Margaret Coffey Farley, Winston-Salem, NC

*Corrected spelling 12/18/2007

Lany Esther McCroskey Coffey

Lany Esther, left in the photograph, was the wife of Clayton McDonald (Mack) Coffey. She was born Dec. 13, 1910 in Coffey's Gap, Watauga Co., NC.

She and Clayton had eight children:

Bertha May, who married Vencil Aker

Gladys Virginia, born Mar. 31, 1931, married Sherman Eugene Bailey

Nellie Alilene, born May 30, 1932, Caldwell Co., married Floyd Earl Coffey, son of Thomas Leroy and Alice Sanders Coffey

James Edward, born Sep. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., died Jan. 11, 2004 in Crestview, Okaloosa Co., FL.

Margaret Josephine, born Apr. 26, 1936 in Caldwell Co.*

Clayton McDonald, born/died 1938

Lonnie Ray, born 1941, died 1991, married Arlene Dishner

Steven, born 1959

The young woman on the right is Lany's sister-in-law, Pauline Coffey, daughter of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine Dellinger Coffey. She married Otis Bell c1944 and had at least three children: Wayne, Chris and Rhonda.

More information shortly on both families.

Additions and/or corrections appreciated.




*Margaret is my source for the photograph, and a number of others that will soon appear here. She is also my source for much of the Caldwell, Watauga and Avery Co. Coffey information in my files.

Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright (Update)

Updated Sep. 15, 2008.

Thos. & Margaret Coffey Wright

Margaret was a daughter of Austin and Mary A. Blaylock Coffey. She was born Aug 22, 1847 in Caldwell Co., NC and died there on Dec. 1, 1931. Thomas was born c1834 in Georgia and died Apr. 5, 1906 in North Carolina.

Both are buried in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Watauga Co.

They had nine children:

Mary Josephine

- Mary Josephine, born Oct., 18, 1867, died Jan 31, 1944 in Mabscott, Raleigh Co., WV. Mary married Tilmon Monroe Gragg, a son of Edmond and Indiana Gragg Gragg on Mar 3, 1883 [Marriage Book 6, Page 24] in Caldwell Co. Tilmon was born Feb., 1858 in Caldwell Co., and died in Camden Co., NC [North Carolina Death Records, 1968-1996 on Dec. 12, 1928. I know of three children: William Henderson, Rhett and Alverdia.

[Two additional children have been reported to me: Cora E. and Bina. No other information provided]

- Sarah Jane, born c1870, married Edmund G. Haupt in Caldwell Co., 1893. No other info.  [A child, Maude, born Apr. 1892, married Frank Baker. Both families were in Knox Co., TN census records for 1910]

- Robert Arthur, born c1875, married Lurenie Holloway, a daughter of Reid D. and Martha Andrews Holloway, on Jul. 14, 1894 in Watauga. Robert disappeared shortly after marriage but fathered a son with Lurenie.  Robert Reaves Wright was born Jun., 18, 1895.  Robert married Nettie McAlister on Jun. 17, 1917 in Watauga Co.  He died on Jan. 18, 1944.  Lurenie later married William Wiley Church c1896.

Sarah Ellanora

- Sarah Ellanora (Ellie), born Jan. 26, 1877, died Dec. 18, 1942. Sarah married Samuel Wiley McCroskey in Nov. 1900 in Knox Co., TN. Sarah had been previously married on Oct. 16, 1896 to Henderson Phillips. Samuel was a son of William and Mira Johnson McCroskey and was born Apr. 10, 1869 in Bluff City, Sullivan Co., TN and died Apr. 14, 1926 in Burke Co., NC. Their children were: Raymond, 1902-1926, Mae, 1904-1983, Lula Nevada, 1907-?, Earl Lemuel, 1909-1967; Lany Esther, 1910-1978, Edward Lawrence, 1915-?, Virgie Edith, 1917-1970, and Roy Lois, 1921-1970.

More information is available on the McCroskey-Wright family.

- Sarah L., born c1879. No other info.

- Emmerette [born c1876, died 1897] married Thomas Coleman May 17, 1892, Caldwell Co.  [Marriage Book 9, Page 209].  I know of two children: Robert Lawrence, born Feb. 19, 1891 and Lloyd Ziniman, born Aug. 10, 1895.  [There was a third, Ora, born 1897. She married Boyd Ragan.]

Thomas Lemuel

- Thomas Lemuel, born Mar. 22, 1884, died Mar. 23, 1946. He married Sarah Emeline Bragg, daughter of James Jackson and Rhoda Cox Bragg. Sarah was born Mar. 18, 1893 in Summers Co., WVa., and died Sep. 10, 1979 in Caldwell Co., NC. I have found three children for them: Thomas Jackson, born 1915; Rexford Lemuel, born 1922, and Vadis Graham, born 1927.

[Three other children have been found: James Selden, born Jan. 9, 1917, died May 13, 1990; Margaret Marcella, born 1919, died 1979; and Theodore Frank, born Nov. 5, 1924, died Jan. 19, 1982.]

  - Annie Lee, born Jul. 27, 1885, died Dec. 11, 1951, married Roby Monroe Coffey on Mar. 19, 1903 in Watauga Co. Roby was son of George Washington and Matilda Coffey Coffey, and was born Mar. 20, 1881 in Caldwell Co., and died in Lenoir, NC on Oct. 1, 1955. There were at least nine children born to this union and will be a subject of a later blog.

- Doctor Hill, born Apr. 1, 1889, died Oct. 4, 1949 in Watauga Co. He married Virgie Nona Gragg, daughter of Leonard L. and Alva Sims Gragg on May 20, 1913 in NC. Virgie was born Oct. 18, 1897 in NC and died in Watauga Co. on Nov. 13, 1945. At least four children were born to them: Meda Geneva Virginia, born May 22, 1914; William Paul, born Jun. 19, 1918; Agnes Adele (Addie), born Aug. 15, 1921, died Jan. 25, 1988; and Thomas Hill, born Dec. 20, 1930. "Addie" married James Bynum Coffey on Jul. 5, 1939 in NC. James was a son of James Hardy and Lillian Mae Gray Coffey. James died Apr. 26, 1986 in Watauga Co. Their children were Patricia Joe Ann, born Mar. 21, 1941, died c1996, and James Robert, born Sep. 27, 1942, died Nov. 11, 1999.

I am uncertain whether Sarah Ellenora and Sarah L. are the same person. It seems unlikely to me that there would be two, much less three children born to the same parents who gave their children the same first name.

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Photo courtesy Margaret Coffey Farley