These obits have been posted to the Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendants Mailing List.

Posted by:  

WESTON _ John Kent Kessler, 88, formerly of Weston and Buckhannon, and most recently a resident of Fort Myers, Fla., died Sunday, Nov. 2, 1997, in Lee Memorial Health Center.

He was born Oct. 23, 1909, in Cowen, Webster County, a son of the late Daniel Peck Kessler and Lenora Agnes Hill Kessler.

On Sept. 12, 1942, he married the former Thelma King, who preceded him in death in 1982.

Surviving are 12 nieces and nephews, including Mrs. Martha J. Schoolcraft, C. Denzil Gardner and M. William Adler, all of Weston, Mrs. William (Kathleen) Straw, Elkins, John Daniel Gawthrop, Gassaway, and one grandniece, Mrs. John H. (Kathryn) Vaughan, Clarksburg.

He was the last surviving member of his immediate family, having also been preceded in death by one brother, Clyde Daniel Kessler; three sisters, Mrs. Ada Hill Gardner, Mrs. Anna Mary Gawthrop and Mrs. Grace Huffman Adler King.

A West Virginia sports enthusiast and athletics historian, Mr. Kessler was known across the state as the author of the much-acclaimed "Hail West Virginians," an 1891 through 1959 chronicle of football and basketball statistics, game accounts, and sports personalities at West Virginia and Marshall universities, and the state's 16 colleges. A second, like publication was his compilation of athletics records at Weston High School.

Mr. Kessler was active in the timber and pulpwood industry in central West Virginia, and a home building contractor in Weston. He was also for several years the director and business manager of Camp Gauley, a summer camp for boys and girls established by his father, at Bolair, Webster County, in 1926, and operated until the early years of World War II.

He was educated in the public schools of Webster and Lewis counties, at the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., at West Virginia University and Marshall College. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Weston, the American Legion Post 4 at Weston, Elks and Moose lodges in Florida, the Sons of the Revolution, and was a former member of the Weston Rotary Club. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army as troop recreation director at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Mr. Kessler was cremated. A memorial service will be held in Weston later in November. Interment will follow in the Kessler family plot at Weston Masonic Cemetery. Boyle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

EARL L. METZ

WESTON - Earl Luther Metz, 81, of Weston died Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998, in Morgan Manor,Morgantown, after a long illness.

He was a former grader operator for the Department of Highways, a member of American Legion Post 184, Horner, a Methodist and an Army veteran of World War II.

Surviving: sons, William of Weston, Charles E. of West Newton, Pa., Michael D. of Bel Vernon, Pa.; daughters, Irene Austin of Streeteboro, Ohio, Carol L. Linn of Bel Vernon, Linda Halterman, Susan Bailey and Clara K. Metz of Weston; brothers, Andy Metz of Ohio, Harley Metz of Clarksburg, Lash June Metz of Weston; sisters, Mary Neal, Cora Musser, Jean Taylor and Maxine Hefner of Weston; 31 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.

Service will be 2 p.m. sunday at Floyd Funeral Home, Weston, with the Rev. Carl W. Mouser officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Jane Lew.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

[Note from Margie Price: brother Andy Metz of Ohio is married to Evelyn Arnestine Price, daughter of Clarence William Price and Artie Carrie Hacker. Evelyn is my paternal aunt.]

Maybe this will be of help to someone.     Posted      Feb. 27, 1998

The following is from list of deaths (name of book unknown) WITHERS, MRS. DORCAS DIANA died at her home in Glenville last week.

Daughter of late John LORENTZ and widow of late MAJOR HENRY WITHERS.. (s/o Alex. Scott Withers) Mrs. Withers was in her 85th year and is survived by one brother, A.W.Lorentz of Morgantown; 2 sisters, Mrs. Steel of Morgantown and Mrs. Curtis of Moundsvile.

Three ch. Scott Withers of Buckhannon, Herbert Withers and Mrs. Emma Withers of Glenville. Mrs. Withers was b. and reared in this county.

Her brother, Phillip Lorentz, died at Walkersville this county a few years ago. The body was brought here. Services at the M.E.Church Friday and interred in the Hill Cemetery beside her husband who has been dead 40 years. (Weston Democrat Fri 1 Dec 1911) -- Lewis Co is probably the county they are referring to--

From Don Norman's information Henry Howard Withers and wife Dorcas Dianah Lorentz came to Gilmer Co VA . Henry served at least 1 term as sheriff of Gilmer Co. and ch were: Mary H. b 1847; John Scott b. July 17, 1847 d 1923 m. Sabina Holt Oct 1875; Emma b ca 1851; Henry L. b ca 1858; Herbert Howard b June 19, 1866 d Sept 7, 1939 m. Estella Whiting Dec 25, 1894.

Posted by:

This is an obituitary for the sister of Lu Hickey whom I have been corresponding with on the WILLIAMS/BANKHEAD family line. I am sending the obit to Weston and Braxton newspapers for her.

Virginia Lee Williams, 87, died March 3, 1998 at Liberal, Kansas. Burial at the Liberal City Cemetery. Virginia was married to Kermit Coffman who preceeded her in death. children: Norma Fredrick, TX; Howard Coffman, Elko, NV; Eldon Coffman, Hooker, OK; Jimmy Barlow, Liberal Kansas and Steve Coffman, Liberal Kansas.

Virginia was the daughter of Russell Sage Williams and Rosa Jane Howell Williams of Braxton and Webster Counties, leaving WV in 1916. Brothers and sisters: Kenneth Earl Williams, Ruby Marie Williams, Alva Burton Williams, Arthur Warren Williams, Rondal Sage Williams, Russell Jean Williams, Jessie Opal Williams; Robert Bradley Williams, Lu Roselene Williams Hickey.

Russell Sage Williams was the son of Cornelius Hurley Williams and Flora Jane Bankhead. Rosa Jane Howell was the daughter of Jeremiah Bell Howell, Jr. and Barbara Ellen Clifton...of Webster Springs.

Posted by:  

Ashby Lee Coffindaffer, 76, of Route 1, Lost Creek, died Sunday, March 8, 1998, at home. 

He was born Aug. 17, 1921, at Kincheloe, son of the late Zell and Pauline Easter Coffindaffer.

A music enthusiast and former Merchant Marine, he retired as a biology teacher from Roosevelt-Wilson High School.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Snider Coffindaffer; a son, Mark J. Coffindaffer, of Fairmont, executive director of the Met Theatre Preservation group; a daughter, Diana Marlene Esteve, of Laramie, Wyo.; two brothers, William E. and C. Basil Coffindaff er, both of Kincheloe; and four grandchildren, Matthew Ashby Coffindaffer, Jessica Marie Coffindaffer, Mariah Danielle Esteve and Gwynne Victoria Esteve.

A celebration of life will be held at New Bethel United Methodist Church, at Good Hope, at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, with the Revs. Gilbert Hart and Robert Cole officiating. Donations: Metropolitan Theatre Preservation Foundation, P.O. Box 312, Morgantown , WV 26507. Morris Funeral Home, Jane Lew, is in charge of arrangements.

HCPD has been saddened by the loss this week of two of our charter members,

Algie Bailey , June B. Burke Morris and Richard V. "Rick" Carr

Algie Luetta (Reed) Bailey, 77, died September 6, 1998, at Fairmont General Hospital in Fairmont.

She was born January 12, 1921, at Beech Lick in Doddridge County, a duaghter of the late Okey Frank and Mary Jane Nicholson Reed.

Her husband, Orvil Bailey, whom she married October 30, 1939, at Harrisonburg, VA., preceded her in death in 1989.

Her eldest son, Marvin Kay, preceded her in death in 1956.

She is survived by her youngest son, Robert Kent "Bobby" Bailey, at home.

Mrs. Bailey spent many of her early years with her grandmother, Sarah Laconia Nicholson. She started school at age five at Beechbottom; before many weeks went by, however, she was back at Salem with an aunt.

Friends will be received today, Wednesday, September 9, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ford Funeral Home, Ford Chapel, in Fairmont. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home Thursday, September 10, at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in the Mt. Morris Cemetery in Lewis County.

June B. Morris, 78, of Grantsville, died Thursday, September, 1998, at Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center in Grantsville, following an extended illness.

She was born June 26, 1920, in Lewis County, a duaghter of the late Alva and Choloe Burke.

Her husband, Donald W. Morris, whom she married in 1945, survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Donna (Mrs. Stephen) Maxwell of Clarksburg and Jane (Mrs. Ronald) Carpenter of Grantsville; one son and daughter-in-law, Richard J. and Jennifer MOrris of Grantsville; one brother, Opha M. Burke of Weston; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mrs. Morris was a graduate of Jane lew High Shcool. She was a former Brownie and Cub Scout leader, as well as a 4-H leader. She was a member of the Calhoun General Hospital Auxiliary and the Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendants. For several years, she worked with her husband at Morris Oil and Gas Company and the family farm.

A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 6, at Stump Funeral Home in Grantsville, with Rev. William Taylor officiating.

Interment followed in the Bethelem Cemetery near Grantsville.

Besides these two wonderful ladies, Richard V. "Rick" Carr, spouse of Alice Peterson and son-in-law of the late Ansil Peterson passed away on September 5. Thought some of you out there might like that info too.

Joy

==== HCPD Mailing List ====

Copyright 1998, the author and Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendants

Submitted by: Nanci L. Kotowski        Feb. 6, 1999

Attached should be the short list of Lewis County deaths of which I wrote to you. To the best of my recollection, these were obtained during the summer of 1998. Please note that during transmission, some of my files have become misaligned.

LEWIS COUNTY, WV, DEATHS

Researched and referenced by Nanci (Headley) Kotowski

ASHCRAFT, FRED M. (widower) bn 3/22/1881 WV dd 7/28/1968 @ 87 y/o @ Weston State Hospital, Weston (usual res Jane Lew) cod arteriosclerotic heart disease bur IOOF Wallace occ farmer Book 9 p 12B

ASHCRAFT, NANNIE (widow) d/o Joseph M. Hess & Martha Louis[e] Spencer dd 12/12/1946 @ 74-5-7 @ Weston cod generalized arteriosclerosis Book 6 p 3

ASHCRAFT, NELLIE R. (widow) bn 5/31/1890 WV d/o Sadie Hipsley & Samuel B. Wilhelm dd 2/28/1964 @ Weston State Hospital, Weston (usual res Wheeling) cod myocardial infarction & arteriosclerotic heart disease bur Greenwood Cem, Wheeling Book 9 p 5

ASHCRAFT, VERNA HARBERT bn 6/28/1881 WV d/o Jesse Harbert & Susan E. Boggess dd 3/13/1960 @ 78-8-15 @ Weston State Hospital, Weston (usual res Lumberport) cod arteriosclerotic heart disease, generalized arteriosclerosis bur Lions Club Cem, Lumberport Book 8 p 8

CRIM, ROSA (single) bn WV dd 4/4/1905 @ 28 y/o @ Weston State Hospital, Weston bur Clarksburg Book 3 p 76

GLOVER, CHARLES (single) s/o Lewis Glover & Maud Glover Tillio dd 2/7/1945 @ 14 y/o @ Weston State Hospital, Weston cod acute myocarditis Book 6 p 128

GLOVER, CLARENCE (widower) bn 6/28/1901 WV s/o Eli Glover & Amanda V. Longwell dd 1/17/1968 @ Weston State Hospital, Weston (usual res Fairmont) cod congestive heart failure & generalized arteriosclerosis bur Floral Hills Cem, Clarksburg Book 9 p 154A

GLOVER, GRACE DARLING bn 2/12/1903 WV d/o David Bradley & Della Reynolds dd 6/19/1966 Weston (usual res Weston) occ housewife bur Bridgeport Cem, Bridgeport Book 9 p 149

NAY, KATHERINE J. (widow) d/o Michael McDonald & Mary White dd 7/16/1945 @ 83-1-10 @ Weston cod carcinoma of stomach Book 6 p 261

NAY, LYDIA MAY bn Harrison Co. d/o Mrs. Lena Moore dd 6/27/1952 @ approx 74 y/o @ Weston State Hospital, Weston (usual res Wallace) cod arteriosclerotic heart disease bur Clarksburg occ housewife Book 7 p 297

NAY, SARAH R. (widow) b 7/27/1875 PA d/o George Thomas & Ellen Roberts dd 10/30/1961 @ Weston State Hospital, Weston (usual res Mannington) cod cardiac failure, hyperparoxia w/parotitis occ housewife Book 8 p 307

Submitted by: Betty R.    KRobi10477@aol.com Jul 29, 1999

Here is an obituary from the Weston Democrat, 1982:

Mrs Arles Cross;

Cora L. Cross , 90, of Cleveland, Ohio, formerly of the Jackson's Mill Community, died at 8:45 pm, Monday, Nov 16, 1982, at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Kathleen Betts in Cleveland.

She was born in Lewis Co. Jan 12, 1892, a daughter of the late John L. and Virginia F. BUTCHER.

Her husband, Arles R.Cross, preceded her in death.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Kathleen Betts and Mrs. Geraldine Pierce, both of Cleveland, Oh.; and Mrs Christine Marsh, route one, Weston; two sons Robert C.Cross, Mentor, Ohio; and Junior B. Cross, Grantsville, W.Va.; one sister, Mrs. Reva Johns, Burgettstown, Pa.; 20 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were a daughter, four sons, six brothers, six sisters, a grandson and two great grandchildren.

Mrs. Cross was Methodist and a member of the Purple Heart Mothers.

Funeral services were held Friday, Nov 19, at 1:30 pm from Floyd Funeral Home with the Rev. Clyde Crites, officiating. Interment was in the Butchersville  Cem.