Funerals are really just Family Reunions

I am not a big fan of funerals.  Let me rephrase, I am not a big fan of viewings.  I have never been comfortable with the idea.  I have told my husband repeatedly, my funeral -- no viewing!  The deceased never look like themselves, and they aren't there anyway.  Take my Gma Lu's funeral, for example.  My grandmother always had a beautiful olive complexion, yet the funeral home put peach colored make up on her.  I took one look and said, that is NOT my grandmother.  I have other ways of honoring the dead than by "viewing" them.

Anyway, I digress.

I am a fan of funerals, for the fact that I get to see so many family members.  It is like a reunion sometimes and I love that!  I am grateful for any opportunity that gets my spread-out family all in one place.  Such was the case with my Gma Willie's funeral back on 17 December 2012.  (Yeah, I know it has been five months, but I have been busy with everything except family history.  Sigh.)

The morning of the funeral, my Aunt Lindi had us all meet at Sandy's Country Junction, as that was Gma Willie's favorite restaurant.  My youngest brother, Jeremy, asked what Gma's favorite was, and so he ordered a BLT sandwich in her honor.  Cool!

We went out the the Sanger Cemetery for the funeral.  It was one of those days that is threatening rain, but the sun shines while you need it to.  It was a lovely day!

I gave the Eulogy for my Gma:

Eulogy for Wilburta “Willie” June Love Linenbach - 17 December 2012

Wilburta June Love was born on 20 September 1922 in Glendale, California to Wilbur Ticknor and Florence Faye Alkire Love.  She was the second of two girls born to the Love family.

Wilburta was named after her father.  “I’m proud my parents wanted to name me after my dad, but I wish his name hadn’t been Wilbur.  Nobody could spell it and half the people couldn’t say it correctly.  I think my family started ‘Willie’ for my sake.  My father, bless his heart.  It never was a secret that he wanted a son.  He never, ever made me feel like I should have been a boy, except once.  I wasn’t too old but he told my mom one day that he’d take me for a haircut.  He did ask me if I would try a ‘boy’s bob’.  I know I did not want one but I said yes to please him and then I think I cried for 24 hours.  My mom felt sorry for me.”

In 1930, the Love family moved from Glendale to Reseda.  Willie said “ I was broken hearted, but it turned into memories that I'll never forget."  Willie loved animals and they raised dogs and chickens and other animals.

As a child Willie had a lot of fun, playing with friends and her many cousins who lived near by.  She loved school.  “I [sometimes] had to sit in a special chair in the hall for talking too much.  Parents used to visit school once in a while. Just drop by.  One time I was in ‘the hall chair’ and my mom dropped by.  She couldn’t believe it.  I think she almost laughed.  I’ll never forget it.”     

Willie attended Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, California.  She did well in school and was the Honorary Major of the ROTC Drill team, and the Captain of the Rifle Team.  She was an excellent shot and won many competitions.  She graduated from high school in 1940.

Willie intended to go into the field of nursing, but when World War II started everyone’s plans changed.  She always felt badly about not following that dream.  Willie credited the development of her intense patriotism to her dad.

After high school, Wilburta joined the Glendale Women’s Ambulance Corps, where she served as a First Lieutenant.

While in high school Wilburta was friends with a man named Donald Caman.  They were married in 1942.  Donald went to France during the war and Willie was pregnant with their son, Donald Caman, Jr.  Donald returned to the United States and told Willie he had met someone in France and wanted a divorce.  Willie moved back to California to live with her parents, and there she met Richard Marshall.  They were married in 1947 and Richard adopted Don.  Richard had a son, Darryl, from his previous marriage.

The family moved to Fresno, where Lindi was born.  Willie took up golf and found it to be a sport that she loved very much.  In 1961 she was the Women's Champion at the Belmont Country Club.   Richard and Willie were divorced, and Willie went to work for Northrup King and then for the Fresno Unified School District as the Principal’s secretary at Ewing Elementary School.  

Willie finally found her true love, and in 1974 Willie married Clarence “Linn” Linenbach.  They shared a love of golf and traveling, and after she retired in 1976, they spent a lot of time on the road in their RV, visiting golf courses around the country.   They also went on cruises and travelled abroad, visiting Germany and Hong Kong.

Willie took up sewing as a hobby and sewed clothes for her family.  I remember matching light blue velour sweaters she made for my dad and I.

She and Linn spent thirty-three happy years together, until Linn passed away in January 2007.  

Sadly, in her later years, Willie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was not able to remember her full life.  Those who visited her were always greeted with a smile and a "Hi honey!"  She did not always remember our names, but she did know that we were connected to each other and that she loved us and we loved her.

I am grateful for the time that I got to spend with my Gma Willie in this life and I am comforted by the knowledge that when I see her again, she will remember me, and all of us, having been made whole again through the grace of Jesus Christ.

My cousin, Kerri June Reynolds Thomas, shared memories about her "Gram":

My Aunt Lindi, Uncle Rich, and my dad, Don Marshall, all shared their memories and feelings:

Darryl Marshall shared a scripture that he read from a Bible that belonged to Willie's mother:

And then we all got to stand around and talk and laugh and remember.....and that is the part I love the best about funerals!  Family!

left to right: Ginnie Westfall (Willie's sister's, Juanita, daughter), Suzanne Mello (Ginnie's daughter), Rich Clark (Lindi's husband), Darryl Marshall (Willie's son), Don Marshall (Willie's son), Lindi Clark (Willie's daughter), Jason Hunt (Lindi's son), Kerri Thomas (Lindi's daughter), Joseph Thomas (Kerri's son), Hayli Thomas (Kerri's daughter), Cheryl Hunt (Jason's wife), Michael Thomas (Kerri's husband), Jared Hunt (Jason's son), Justin Hunt (Jason's son), Lora Nehring (Don's daughter), Jeremy Marshall (Don's son), Rebecca Nehring (Lora's daughter), Katrina Nehring (Lora's daughter), Kevin Nehring (Lora's husband), and Amanda Nehring (Lora's daughter) -- Wilburta "Willie" Linenbach's funeral - Sanger Cemetery - 17 December 2012

Cousins: Jeremy Marshall, Lora Marshall Nehring, Kerri Reynolds Thomas

Siblings: Darryl Marshall, Lindi Marshall Clark, Don Marshall

Last month I went out to the Sanger Cemetery again and was able to get a photo of the Linenbach headstone:

I think about my Gma Willie a lot.  I used to see her every Friday morning, so often, especially on Friday mornings, I think about her.

Anna Halligan Sammon Warren and Annie Sammon Ramey Caman

The excitement continues!! : )

My grandfather, Don Caman, said: "My grandmother (Anna Halligan) married William Sammon.  His father and his family came from Ireland.  William Sammon was apparently a ne'er-do-well because my grandmother, who was a staunch Catholic, they had three children, she divorced him.  Then eventually she married William Warren."

Marriage record of Anna Teressa Halligan to William Sammon - 12 November 1879
 in Greene County, Iowa

Marriage record of Anna Teressa Halligan Sammon to William M. Warren - 24 October 1898 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa

He mentions three children, but I only knew of my great-grandmother, Annie Marie (or Amy Marie, or Marie, or Mary).  Despite her many name changes, I call her Annie because that is what is on her headstone, so that is what she wanted to be called at the end of her life.

In the process of looking for Thomas, I connected with a Cynthia Halligan.  Cousins!!  We both are descendants of Thomas Halligan.  She was doing some digging and found the 1900 Census with William and Hannah Warren, and three Sammon children.  Woohoo!!  

1900 United States Federal Census - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, line 99 - page 1

1900 United States Federal Census - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, line 1 - page 2

So, there is Margaret, Mary (my 2nd great-grandmother), and Frances.  I can't find any more about Margaret, as she most likely got married and I have no idea what her married name was, but I think I found Frances.  There is a California Social Security Death Index entry for Frances Sammon, with the same birthdate, who died in San Francisco in 1987.  There is no entry for him on Find-A-Grave, so I am not able to verify that as of yet.

California Social Security Death Index for Frances Sammon

Then on down through Annie. . .

Annie Marie Sammon Ramey Caman

Marriage Certificate for Clarence Chapman Caman and Annie Sammon

On the back of my great-grandparents marriage certificate, it says that, for both of them, this is their second marriage.  I know very little about Clarence Chapman's first marriage, but this week I was able to find a lot more about Annie's first marriage.  It was to a man named Frederick "Fred" Ramey.  They were married in 1908 in Omaha, Nebraska, and had a son, also named Frederick Ramey.  (I was able to find a lot of information about Fred's parents and grandparents as well.) 

1910 United States Federal Census - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, line 13

On the 1930 Census, it lists Clarence and Marie A. Caman, with their son Donald (my grandfather) and step-son, Frederick Ramey.  

1930 United States Federal Census - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, line 28

I am not sure why Fred Ramey and Annie were in Colorado, but they weren't there very long.  The April 1910 Census puts them in Omaha, then Frederick was born in Colorado on 21 December 1910.  Fred died in Denver, Colorado in 7 June 1915 and is buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska.  Annie remarries Clarence Caman in 1917.  Frederick married Ruth Sharp and died in Los Angeles on 26 May 1986.

California Social Security Death Index for Frederick Warren Ramey

Direct line ancestry: Anna Teressa Halligan --> Annie Marie Sammon --> Donald William Caman --> Donald William (Caman) Marshall --> Lora Teressa Marshall Nehring

Thomas Halligan and his family

This has been a week of amazingness!!  I have broken through so many road blocks this last two weeks, it is so exciting!

A while back I mentioned my difficulty in finding any information on Thomas Halligan.  This has been a road block for as long as I can remember.  I have been able to find oodles of information, thanks to the fantastic genealogical community out there!

It started three weeks ago when a Find-A-Grave volunteer took the headstone photos I had requested of Ann, Patrick and Mary Halligan.  I was guessing that they could have been Thomas' children.  The funny thing was, I didn't remember having requested that the photos be taken.  That one little forgotten request was the crack in the flood gates!

The Halligan marker at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa

Ann Halligan's marker in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

Ann Halligan's marker in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.  It says: Ann, wife of T. Halligan, died July 17, 18965, aged 68 years

Patrick Halligan's headstone in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

Mary Halligan, Patrick's wife's headstone in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

I was guessing that Patrick, Ann and Mary could have been Thomas' children.

When I made the request I added a note that if there was a Thomas Halligan buried there as well, could they please take a photo of his headstone too.  The volunteer told me that there was no headstone for Thomas in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa, but that she was familiar with the local cemeteries, and there was a Thomas Halligan buried in the St. Vincent's Cemetery in Riverside, Washington, Iowa.  

Thomas Halligan's headstone in the St. Vincent's Cemetery in Riverside, Washington, Iowa.  Transcription: Thomas Halligan, Died Aug. 22, 1874, Aged 50 years.  John, died June 15, 1863, Aged 8 years.  Julia E., died Nov. 18, 1865, Aged 1 yr. 9 mos.  May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

This Thomas Halligan died in 1874, at the age of 50, meaning he would have been born in 1824.  There are two children buried with Thomas, John and Julia.

I Googled the St. Vincent Cemetery and called to speak to the Sexton there.  He said that when they acquired the cemetery, there were no additional records, and, the first source of my frustration, Iowa did not start keeping records until 1880, six years until after Thomas Halligan died.  Iowa became a state in 1846, but didn't keep records until 1880?!  Bad Iowa!!

So, no death record, nothing.  So, I called the Riverside newspaper to see if there was an obituary.  (Hooray for unlimited calling plans!!)  The Riverside newspaper was not around then, but they said there was a Washington County newspaper and I should contact the Washington County Library's genealogical department to see if they had obituaries.  Since the department is staffed by volunteers, it took a few days for them to get back to me.

In the mean time, I did some digging.  I went back to the 1870 Census that lists Thomas Halligan with his wife, Lancia, and five children, Thomas, Patrick, Ann, Mary and Margaritta.  

1870 United States Federal Census for Union Township, Louisa, Iowa, line 6.

Thomas was born in Ireland, Patrick in Great Britain, and Ann in Iowa.  To me this tracks their immigration.  Patrick was born in 1850, which means that they would have immigrated to America somewhere between July 1850 and roughly, 1852-1854.  I have checked many immigration records and haven't found them yet.  Frustration #2.

The Iowa State Census for 1925 lists Patrick Halligan, born about 1850, from Ireland with father, Thomas Halligan, and mother, Annie Ratchford.

Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 - Census date - 1 Jan 1925

The Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 lists Patrick Halligan, born 4 July 1850 in England, with father, Thomas Halligan, and mother, Anna Caslello. (?)

Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947

Thomas' birth year on the 1870 Census is 1842, and I am beginning to think that the census taker reversed the numbers of his birth year, and perhaps when Ann C. said Ann-C the census taker heard Lancia.  The more I look at census documents, the more I see human error.

There is also a 1860 census with Thomas Halligan, his wife Ann C., and children Patrick, Ann and Mary.  The ages and birth places match. 

1860 United States Federal Census - Union Township, Louisa, Iowa, line 19

In the meantime the Washington County Historical Society volunteer called me back.  There were no obituaries ……. frustration #3.  She said that if someone's horse died, it would make the front page, but when a person died, not so much.  She had the cemetery record for Thomas Halligan, which also mention the John and Julia, although the records are inconsistent, one says he died in 1874 and one says 1871.  The headstone says 1874.  She also referenced the 1860 and 1870 Census documents.  She also had the marriage record for Patrick Halligan and his wife, Mary.  Basically, not much more.

I called the Washington County Recorders office, to see if there were any records for any of the Halligan children.  They don't give information over the phone, and you have to be a direct relative to receive any of the documents.  They referred me to the Washington County Historical Society.  Been there.  They said I could pay someone to come to see if there was anything there to ask for, but I am not at that point yet.  Frustration #4.

There is also the 1880 Census where Ann Halligan is listed with her youngest daughter, Maggie (Margaritta).  A few lines down is Patrick and his family.

1880 United States Federal Census - Fremont Township, Johnson, Iowa, line 36

So, based on the census documents and Patrick's death record, I am convinced that this is my 3rd great-grandfather, Thomas Halligan, and his daughter, Ann, is my 2nd great-grandmother, Anna Teressa Halligan.

So, this would be my understanding of this family.  Thomas Halligan and Ann C. Ratchford were married in Ireland, somewhere around 1846ish.  They had a son, Thomas, born around 1848-50.  They immigrated to America, and Patrick was born along the way while they were in England.  For some reason Thomas didn't come with them, as he doesn't appear on the 1860 Census.  My grandfather, Don Caman, said that they came to America with the Sammon family.  "The Halligan family and the Sammons had come from Ireland, they were in the famine and it was to either leave Ireland or starve to death.  So, that's why they left Ireland.  The Halligans and Sammons eventually settled in Iowa and my great-great grandmother met my great-great grandfather in Iowa."

They arrived in America, traveling through Illinois, where John was born, and settling in Iowa, where Ann(a), Mary, Margaritta and Julia were born.  John appears on the 1860 Census, and then died in 1863, and is buried with Thomas.  Julia never appears on a census, as she was born in February 1864 and died in November 1865.  Some time before 1870, Thomas arrived to join the family.

In the St. Mary's Cemetery, the headstones were Patrick and his wife, Mary Morgan Halligan, and Thomas' wife, Ann.  Her headstone says, wife of T. Halligan.

After so many years of road blocks, it is wonderful to have a break through!!  I still have to find the immigration records, and I don't have the International subscription to Ancestry, so I have to find Irish records another way, but still a break through!!

Don Caman continued by saying: "My cousins are named Warren and my uncle was Warren, but really they should have used the name of Sammon, because I show no record that they children's names were changed or that they were adopted by WIlliam Warren, who was their step-father.  But, in those days, when the Census man came around, if you wanted to change your name, you could, because originally, my mother's name was Mary.  And for some reason she liked Amy Marie, so she changed it to Amy Marie."

My next post will be on the process of finding Anna's family and Mary/Amy Marie's family!  The excitement continues!!

Direct line ancestry: Thomas Halligan --> Anna Teressa Halligan --> Annie Marie Sammon --> Donald William Caman --> Donald William (Caman) Marshall --> Lora Teressa Marshall Nehring

St. George - Day 2

I am going to tell you right away that there will be a "St. George - Day 2 Revisited", as I don't have a lot to show for what I did today.  I got a lot of information, but not a lot of photos.....yet.

I started the day at the St. George Temple.  Both Hector McQuarrie and Ann Macfarlane served as temple workers for many years in the St. George Temple, so I was very excited to have a chance to actually go into the temple.  I have been to the temple grounds many times, but never had a chance to go inside.  It was very emotional for me, imagining seeing them there.  I know they are not "in" St. George, but it made me feel good to be where they have been.

The entrance to the St. George Temple

The St. George Temple

I took this one because it is Flag Day today.

I asked in the temple office if they kept records of when temple workers had been there.  Their records didn't go back that far.

I next went to the DUP Museum in St. George.  They have an impressive collection there, including many photos of the Macfarlane and McQuarrie families.  I ordered a disk with histories and photos on it.  It will be mailed to me.  First example of not having a lot to show for today.

Yes, that is the same McQuarrie as we are related to.

The McQuarrie Memorial Hall Pioneer Museum, cared for by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers

 Also, there is a big sign as you walk in the door of the museum that says "Absolutely No Photos".  So, I don't have anything to show from my visit to the museum other than a photo of the building.

One thing I did find, however, was a photo of several female temple workers from the early 1920s, including Ann Macfarlane!!!  I was so thrilled!  It said on the binder that the photos were available at a local photography studio that was a few blocks away.  I went there and the photographer had the photo, but her printer was jammed, so I paid for the photo and gave her my address. So, yet another example of how I don't have anything to show for all the work I did today.

From the Museum, I went back to the St. George Cemetery.  If you recall from my last St. George post, I did not take a photo of Robert Gray McQuarrie's headstone.  I went back looking for it today, and all I found was a patch of dirt next to Charlotte Ann McQuarrie's headstone that is getting overrun with grass.  I spent the next couple of hours trying to see if I could find out what happened to Robert's headstone.

Charlotte Ann McQuarrie's headstone with a bare patch next to it.  I would imagine that Robert's headstone said FATHER at the top and looked very similar to this one.

I called the Sexton who is over this cemetery and he said that they do not keep records of what happens to headstones.  I have been told that there was significant vandalism to this cemetery a couple of times in the last several years.  Also, the storms can knock over the headstones, and this type of limestone headstone will shatter if they get knocked over.  Also, I was told at the library (I will get to that in a minute) that the water that the City of St. George has started using lately is straight out of the river and is very alkali and it is deteriorating the headstones.  Lovely!

I wanted to see if there were some local history books that might have pictures from the cemetery, or something like that. Next I went to the Family History library next to the temple, and they didn't have any information.  They suggested I try the City Library.  So, I went there.  They didn't have enough information on Robert McQuarrie to know if there originally was a headstone, but I did find something else out.

In my previous post I mentioned that I didn't know who the headstone next to Hector McQuarrie was.  From the book, "Saint George, Utah Original Pioneers: December 1, 1861 - May 10, 1869: Histories and Pictures", by Roberta Blake Barnum and Paul Peine, it states: "[Hector's] wife Agnes Gray passed away 25 Oct 1900 in St Geoge.  Hector then married his wife's niece, Elizabeth McKillop McMurtrie 24 Dec 1900.  She passed away 15 May 1912.  Hector died 16 Nov 1920.  All are buried in the St George cemetery."  (I found this book at the City Library.)

Is there any chance that anyone has a personal photo of Robert Gray McQuarrie's headstone?  I would love to see it!

So, just ten copies today, but as soon as I get the photos......woohoo!!

Stay tuned. : )

St. George - Day 1

I am visiting family in Mesquite, NV and I wanted to spend a day in St. George, Utah doing family history resreach.  Turns out, I will get two!!  Woohoo!  Today I went with my sister-in-law, Stephanie, and two of our kids to get clothes for them to take on the Pioneer Trek they are taking this week.  I am excited for Amanda to go on Trek and hopefully gain a much greater kinship to her pioneer ancesters.

So, today we went to the St. George City Cemetery where many of my ancestors are buried.  I have photos of Hector and Agnes McQuarrie's headstones and John and Ann Macfarlane's headstones, but they were not as nice a quality as I would like, and I wanted to get digital photos of them.  And, in the meantime I had found several other relatives that were buried there.

First, here are Hector and Agnes McQuarrie's headstones.  They are getting a bit deteriorated, so we covered them in water so they were more easily read.

Hector McQuarrie
1834-1920
grave site B-7-22-2

Agnes Gray McQuarrie
1835-1900
grave site B-7-22-1

Next to Hector's headstone there is one for Elizabeth M. McQuarrie.  I am gong to have to do some further research on who this is.  I believe it may be his second wife, but I am not entirely sure.  I have checked a family history website I use and there is severely conflicting data on who his second wife may have been.  All I know is that he moved to Salt Lake City in 1919, which was seven years after Elizabeth died.

The next grave I found was Agnes' father, Matthew Gray.

Matthew Gray
1808-1893
grave site A-F-100-3

Hector and Anges' oldest son is Robert Gray McQuarrie and he married Charlotte Ann Macfarlane.  (Robert and Charlotte's oldest daughter is Ruth McQuarrie Penrose, my great-grandmother.)

(I just realized as I was loading the photos here that I took a photo of the wrong headstone, so I have another errand to do when I go back to St. George on Thursday!)

Charlotte Ann Macfarlane McQuarrie
1858-1917
grave site B-9-8-3

The final headstones I took a photo of was the obelisk with John Menzies Macfarlane and his three wives, one on each side.  There are also grave markers for each of those that are buried there.

John Menzies Macfarlane
1833-1892
grave site A-A-6-2

John Menzies Macfarlane's grave marker

Ann Chatterley Macfarlane
1837-1926
grave site A-A-6-1

Ann Macfarlane's grave marker

Three of John and Ann's children are buried with them. 

Kate Macfarlane 1868-1869 (4 months old)

Duncan Sinclair Macfarlane 1871-1873 (2 years old)

Duncan Macfarlane 1874-1876 (21 months)

To see all the photos that I took at the cemetery, CLICK HERE.


After we left the cemetery, we drove up to 86 West Diagonal where the Gates-McQuarrie House is located.  This home belonged to Hector and Anges' son, Hector McQuarrie and his wife, Ella.

It sure is a gorgeous house!  It has been well taken care of!

The plaque that is on the sidewalk in front of the Gates-McQuarrie House

I am really looking forward to going back to St. George on Thursday!  I am going to go to the St. George Temple.  My 3rd great-grandparents, Ann Macfarlane and Hector McQuarrie, were both temple workers there for many years.  I will be going to the DUP Museum, which is housed in McQuarrie Hall.

Today I met a cashier at the DI Thrift Store in St. George whose great-grandfather was John Macfarlane.  Cousins!  I am willing to bet this town is full of relatives!

Direct line ancestry: Hector McQuarrie/Agnes McQuarrie --> Robert Gray McQuarrie/Charlotte Ann Macfarlane McQuarrie --> Ruth McQuarrie Penrose --> Lu Penrose Bond --> Kathryn Bond Berkowitz --> Lora Marshall Nehring
--and--
Direct line ancestry: John Menzies Macfarlane/Ann Chatterley Macfarlane --> Charlotte Ann Macfarlane McQuarrie/Robert Gray McQuarrie --> Ruth McQuarrie Penrose --> Lu Penrose Bond --> Kathryn Bond Berkowitz --> Lora Marshall Nehring