William Leon & Marion Edna Norris Coffey

This couple married c1912, probably in Watauga Co., NC.  William was a son of William Luther and Mary Salome Moretz Coffey, born Jul. 19, 1892 in Watauga Co.  Marion was the daughter of Millard Harrison and Ida Delrea Davis Norris and was born Oct. 7, 1895, also in Watauga Co.

When William Leon registered for the draft in WW1, he did so on June. 5, 1917 in Watauga Co.  He was described as being tall with medium build, blue eyes and light colored hair.  He was 24 years old, born July 29, 1893 at Meat Camp in Caldwell Co.  Like those before him, he was a farmer and had a wife and two children.

The family appeared in both the 1920 and 1930 Watauga Co. census at Blowing Rock.  His death in August, 1963 at age 71 was ruled a suicide by "asphyxiation, drowning."  Reason for suicide is not known but "depression" was cited as contributing to his death.

He and Marion had nice children together, all born in Watauga Co.:

Homer Leon, born Jun. 29, 1913, married Polly Ersal Presnell, born Jan. 22, 1916.

Thelma Edna, born Feb. 28, 1915, died May 26, 1995 in Hickory Twp., Catawba Co.  Thelma married Odell Cletus Deal, a son of Nathan T. and Mary Elvira Shell.  He was born Jan. 2, 1904 in Catawba Co., and died there on Jan. 6, 1989.  Odell's first wife was Constance Eliza Chester, born 1908, died 1957 in Catawba Co.  He and Thelma were married in 1959 in Caldwell Co.  Thelma was a US Navy veteran of WWII.  Her military headstone marker reads S1 [Seaman First Class] US Navy, World War II.  What an adventure she must have had!  She had no known children.

Arthur Wade, born Jun. 29, 1917, married Dec. 20, 1945 to Annie Elizabeth Cohn, born Sep. 8, 1917, died Dec. 28, 2000 in Boone.

Ida Irene, born Feb. 23, 1919, married Vernon Stokes Woods, born Jan. 27, 1918 in NC, died Oct. 12, 196 in Mecklenburg Co., NC.  They were married Nov. 27, 1944 in Watauga Co.

Jewel Salome, born c1920, married Max R. Moody.  Max was born Mar. 25, 1919 in Watauga Co. and died there on Mar. 31, 2006.

Marion Helen, born Jun. 16, 1924, married Conor Jones Triplett on Sep. 14, 1946 in Watauga Co.  He died in June, 1976.

Rena Marie, born Jun. 21, 1926, married Ralph Junior Broyhill on Jan. 26, 1946 in Watauga Co.

Waymon Wayne, born Jan. 7, 1929 - no information.

Stanley Owen, born Apr. 26, 1931, died Oct. 4, 2005 in Blowing Rock.  Stanley married Betty Moody.

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Some of the birth years for these folks were found in the 1900 census.  In many cases when a corresponding death certificate was found the birth year was +/- 1 year off the census record.  This also occurs many times when viewing WW1 draft records.  The birth year is nearly always off by +/- 1 year from headstone, census or death certificate dates.  It is a phenomena that I have noticed many times and often wondered which is the most accurate?








No. 997