Thanks Rieta, for sharing with this mail list. And of course I want to
join you in expressing sympathy to the families of the three people below.
I thought I'd add an explanation about where they fit in, in case anyone
is wondering.
But first, before I forget, I want to mention a non-discovery. Last
Friday, Mary and I were at Arlington National Cemetery, for the
interment of the ashes of my brother, Henry G. Thompson (whom some of
you met at one of the Campbell Reunions a few years ago). During the
procession to the niche where his ashes were stowed, I saw a plaque for
a Carroll Runyon, and thought I'd discovered the resting place for the
ashes of one of our Campbell Cousins, and who was known by Tom
Zurflieh. But the dates for our Carroll Runyon are (1905 - 1968) and
that plaque was for someone born a decade later.
OK, Back to Rieta's obits.
Ralph Mattison is not a Campbell descendant, but he and his sister
Florence, are in our tree because they were foster children of their
aunt, Eva MATTISON Owlett (1880 - 1977), wife of C.C. John Bosard Owlett
(1890 - 1959) My siblings knew Ralph and Florence as teenagers, but I
didn't met Ralph until a few years ago at an Owlett Reunion. I had seen
pictures of him all my life, so I was glad I got to know him a little.
We had a pleasant conversation.
Ralph's widow, Blanche, has numerous connections to people in our family
tree --- Van Dusens, Seelys, Owletts, Hazletts, and others.
Both Dora SEELY Church, and her husband, Louis, were Campbell Cousins.
Dora was a remarkable woman. I never met her in person, I only
corresponded, read newspaper interviews of her, and learned more about
her through some of her nephews and nieces. She was the oldest of our
living Campbell Cousins. I'll have to figure out who now inherits that
title.
For those of you who are interested, Dora was a daughter of Elizabeth
Philena "Betsy" Tubbs (1885 - 1943) & Samuel Allen Seely (1883 - 1961);
son of Mary E. Babcock (1847 - 1883) [& stepson of Mary Louise Hazlett
(1854 - 1936] & Jud Delos Seely (1851 - 1929); son of Allen Seely (1826
- 1909) & Mary Ann Campbell (1826 - 1894); dau. of Ann Clinch (1804 -
1875) & Joseph Campbell (1793 - 1864); son of Mary Harper (1749 - 1844)
& Joseph Campbell (1748 - 1824).
Dora's husband, Louis Alfred Church (1902 - 1991), was a son of Walsteen
Aaron Church (1861 - 1915 & Ida Ann Cook (1880 - 1970); dau. of Mary
Jane "Jennie" Swan (1858 - 1930) & Burton Cook (1846 - 1917); son of
James Cook (1804 - 1893) & Rachel Hazlett (1812 - 1893); dau. of John
Hazlett (abt 1787 - ?) & Jane Campbell (1792 - 1932); daughter of Joseph
& Mary Harper Campbell.
Ryan Graham is an Owlett, but not a Campbell Cousin. Ryan is a grandson
of Henry Graham (living), son of James Halsey Graham (1902 - 1986) &
Mary Minerva Owlett (1904 - 1993); dau of Cora Jane Brown (1866 - 1937)
& Thomas Mason Owlett (1865 - 1994); son of Mary Treat (1828 - 1866) &
Thomas M. Owlett (1823 - 1892); son of Martha Pope (1801 - 1851) &
Gilbert Burton Owlett (1799 - 1877). Mary Minerva OWLETT Graham was a
1st cousin of C.C. Mark Treat Owlett.
All that may have been more than most of you wanted to know, but
probably not you, dear reader, if you've hung in this far.
Again, thank you Rieta, and our condolences to the families of the deceased.
Bill Thompson
Rieta P Boyden wrote:
The following three obits were in this weeks Elmira Star Gazette and
I thought they might interest some of you.
Our condolences to all, in each of these families.
Rieta P Boyden
MATTISON, Ralph Earl
Age 91, of 4325 Locey Creek Road, Osceola, PA, passed away Monday, April 27, 2009, at the
Green Home, Inc., Wellsboro, PA. He was born August 21, 1917 in Dewittville, NY, the son
of Earl Ralph and Rachael Stern Mattison. He retired after working for 31 years for
Ingersoll-Rand. Ralph was a member of the Osceola Methodist Church and a veteran of the
U.S. Army who served in the Philippines and Japan during WWII. Survived by his wife of 71
years, Blanche Van Dusen Mattison; son, Ralph Van (Mary Patricia Lennox) Mattison,
Osceola, PA; daughter, Lois Piecuch, Osceola, PA; four grandchildren, five
great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a
son, Len Ja Mattison in 1969. Funeral Services will be conducted at the convenience of the
family. Burial in Fairview Cemetery, Osceola, PA. Memorial donations may be made to Laurel
Home Health Hospice, Valley Community Ambulance Assn. and the Osceola United Methodist
Church. Arrangements are in car!
e !
of Kenyon Funeral Home, Inc., 214 West Main Street, Elkland, PA
16920.
CHURCH, Dora S.
Age 104, of 204 Holden St., Osceola, PA, where she resided for over 80 yrs., passed away
at her home April 29, 2009 after a brief illness. She was born Sept. 24, 1904 in Osceola,
PA, the daughter of Samuel A. and Betsy P. Tubbs Seely. She was born and lived her
childhood on the Seely farm on Norway Ridge Road. She graduated from Elkland High School
in 1923 and Mansfield Normal School in 1925. She taught school for over 17 years until
taking over her father's feed business which she operated until the late 80's. She
was an active member of the Osceola United Methodist Church and played the piano for many
events and family gatherings. She was a very unselfish, independent, hardworking person
and a devoted mother, wife, homemaker and caregiver. She is survived by grandnieces,
Dianna Green and Bonnitta Seely; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews,
great-grandnieces and nephews and great-great-grandnieces and nephews. She was preceded in
death by her husband, Louis !
A.!
Church in 1991, whom she married June 4, 1928; brothers, Rexford
(Bud) Seely, Allen (Jud) Seely; sister, Beryl Cummings. Friends are invited to call at the
Kenyon Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Elkland, PA, Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,
where funeral services will be held following calling hours at 12:00 p.m., Pastor Sharon
Kent offc. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Osceola, PA.
GRAHAM, Ryan R.
Age 25, of 601 E. Church St., Lock Haven, PA, passed away April 27, 2009. He was born
March 28, 1984 in Wellsboro, PA, the son of Jeffrey and Susan Johnson Graham. He was an
Iraq War Army veteran, student at Lock Haven Univ., member of the American Legion and VFW
Post #131, and at one time was active in scouting and enjoyed playing basketball and
football. He is survived by his parents, Jeffrey and Susan Graham, Elkland, PA; brothers,
Scott Graham, Elkland, PA, Thomas Graham, Elkland, PA; paternal grandparents, Henry and
Anita Graham, Tioga, PA; several aunts, uncles and cousins. Friends are invited to call at
the Kenyon Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Elkland, PA, Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Visitation will be conducted Saturday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Calvary United
Methodist Church, Lawrenceville, PA, where funeral services will be held following
visitation at 2:00 p.m., Rev. Robert W. Strozyk, offc. Burial will be in Farmington Hill
Cemetery with full Military Hono!
rs!
. Memorial donations may be made to: "Gift from Within,"
16 Cobb Hill Rd., Camden, Maine 04843 or Calvary United Methodist Church Building Fund,
P.O. Box 57, Lawrenceville, PA 16929