October 25, 2013

Oct 25, 2013 | Roots Meetings

On a sunny Illinois fall day while local farmers labored in their fields harvesting, Cleary/Murphy/Blair/Evans cousins gathered at Denny’s Restaurant in Bloomington.

Joan Cleary began the meeting with news sent by those that couldn’t attend.

Peggi Pech Evans (grt granddaughter of the immigrant Mary Murphy Evans) spoke about her father, Stephen B. Evans (1915-1980). (Stephen was the grandson of John and Mary Murphy Evans. Peggi gave a most interesting and heartwarming account of her father’s life. Stephen farmed the family farm originally purchased just south of Bentown by his grandfather, Irish immigrant John Evans. Peggi remembered, “Dad was an early riser, whistling a happy tune while heading down the stairs each morning and into the kitchen to start breakfast.” You can read Peggi’s story on our family website under “new submissions”.

CONTINUATION OF OCT 26 2012 MINUTES
Joan Cleary and Roseann Cleary Clifford told how years ago in an antique shop in El Paso IL they came across an old photo album. They purchased two of the photos inside which were marked Willie Cleary and his Aunt Margaret. Derrick Jones was able to make copies of the Willie Cleary photo to give to his cousins last summer at their El Paso reunion. Of course, how they wish they had bought the whole album.

The group voted to return to Denny’s Restaurant next April 26, 2013 at 12 noon. If you have anything you would like to present at the next meeting please contact Mary.

Be sure to see what’s new on this website including:
Philip Murphy tab: Philip Murphy life and photos submitted by Jim Dearey
Joe Hayes tab: Joe Hayes Life Story sbumitted by Rose Hayes
Cleary Genealogy tab: Cleary Irish Baptism/marriage records and County Tipperary parish map researched by Derrick Jones.
Murphy Genealogy tab: Murphy Irish Baptism records and County Offaly parish map researched by Derrick Jones.

Be sure to make submissions to this website!

The Cleary/Murphy family tree on Ancestry.com is available for you to view by contacting Mary Stack. She will give you a guest log-in.

Written by Mary Stack Oct 2012

Joan Cleary read excerpts of “Joe’s Story”.  Written by Joe’s wife, Rose Hayes, the life to date of Joe Hayes is anything but dull.  Joe is the grandson of Cornelius and Mary Evans Hayes, and great grandson of immigrants John and Mary Murphy Evans.  An excerpt:  “Joe enlisted in the Army in October, 1946, and, by January 1, 1947 he was on a boat to Japan.   The fighting in World War II had ended but the war was not declared over.  He served in the Occupation of Japan at Sendai for a year.  He had many adventures and experiences that helped him mature.   Three years ago Joe was thrilled to go on the Honor Flight for World War II Veterans.  It was one of the most moving things he had ever experienced.”   The entire story is on our website under “Joe Hayes Story”.
 
The Roots group is reminding all of us that we should write down the stories of ourselves, our grandparents, our great grandparents.  If you do have a story prepared, please submit it to this website.  Others would love to read it.  If you would like to present it at a Roots meeting, please let Joan Cleary know.
 
Roseann Clifford, our Roots treasurer, has collected $250 in donations which will fund our family website into 2015.  Thanks to all who donated!
 
Charlene Kimpler has been tracking burial sites of our ancestors.  She is stumped over several.  She requested that a list be posted on this website of those unknown with the hope that one of the cousins can help.
 
Patty Kelley requested that our website have a recent obit section on our website.  If you have lost a family member and would like to have that obit posted, just send it in.  (Only obits submitted by a close family member will be accepted.)
 
Our next meeting will take place Friday, April 25, 2014, at 12 noon, at Denny’s Restaurant, Bloomington IL.
Joe’s Honor Flight and the “Andrews Sisters”