KELLY, Merl Gates

Notes:

Merl, a native Californian, lived in Chico from 1920 until his death in 1977 at age 83. Census records indicate he was born in 1894 at Oregon House, Yuba Co., CA., where his family had located from Algonquin, Mc Henry Co., Illinois around 1880. He appears in the Marysville area with his older brothers and parents in the 1900 census where his father, Joseph, was a gold miner.
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Merl, a WWI soldier, was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army when attending basic training at camp Kearny, Ca., By a written request to the President of the U.S. that Merle was needed at home. After his divorce from Alice, he stayed with his mother until she died in 1944.
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The 1920 census has Merl, his mother Alice and uncle Fernando Kelly all living together in Buckeye Township, Shasta Co., CA., (his mother had been widowed by then).
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We can follow the movements of Merl from 1921 on through Chico city directories located at the Sutro Library in San Francisco, CA.
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1921 finds Merl living with his widowed mother Alice and his uncle Fernando G. Kelly at 4045 7th street, his occupation was listed as laborer, his uncle was a public school teacher.
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At the end of 1921 Merl was married to Alice M. Stevens. The Dec. 6, 1921 issue of the Enterprise Record shows: Couple Marry - Alice M. Stevens and Merl G. Kelly, both of Chico were married last night at 8:30 by Justice of the Peace J.L. Barnes in the municipal building.
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1922 has Merl working at D. M. (Diamond Match) Co. as a Laborer.
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Merl and Alice moved to 4821 9th street in Chico in about 1928, and to 4534 9th Street in 1931. About 1930 Merl is listed as a chauffeur.
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About 1933 He and Alice had split up, and gone their separate ways.
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In 1935 Merl and a woman by the surname Methrin had a child together.
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1937 finds Merl at 244 W. 9th, and at 644 W. 2nd in 1945.
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Another career change came about for Merl in 1948 when he is listed as a reader at the Christian Science Church, his address is also different at 440 W. 4th.
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By November 24, 1950 Merl had married Suzie Newquist.
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Merl's death certificate indicated he was a self employed man and had been a widower at the time of his death.
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Merl's Obituary appears in the Chico Enterprise Record as follows;

M.G. Kelly
A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the Brusie Funeral Home for Merl G. Kelly, 83, of 1147 Neal Dow Ave.
Kelly died Friday at a local hospital.
Born Aug. 1, 1894 in Marysville to Joseph and Alice Kelly, he lived in Yuba County until the age of six, when the family moved to Redding. He lived there until joining the Army in 1918, and moved to Chico after his military service.
Survivors include three daughters, Alta M. Bassett of Chico; Betty Comasky of Stockton, and Elsie E. Perry of Eagle, Colo.
Bishop Robert Standing will officiate at the services, and Mrs. Joyce Bae will sing "Beyond the Sunset", and "Going Home." Interment will be in the veterans section of the Chico Cemetery with Jimmy McMahon, Everett Cudd, Frank Zucca, Albert Coleman, Tony Squillace and Ernie Cook as casket bearers.
The flag will be presented by members of the Chico Post 17 of the American Legion.

Merl — METHRIN, Methvin Or. [Group Sheet]

Merl married STEVENS, Alice Marguerite 5 Dec 1921, Chico, Butte County, California. Alice (daughter of STEVENS, Henry Mains and DURETTE, Gertrude Estella) was born 2 Apr 1904, California; died 25 Nov 1971, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California; was buried 30 Nov 1971, Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery, Charmicheal, Sacramento County, California. [Group Sheet]

Merl married NEWQUIST, Susie Winonia 18 Nov 1950, Chico, Butte County, California. Susie was born Abt 1922, California; died Bef Nov 1977. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Alta was born at 3:55 AM at the address of 4045 7th. St, in Chico, CA. The attending Physician was Ella P. Gatchell. At the time her parents Merl and Alice had not decided on a name, however her social security record (566-34-8580) confirms the same birthdate as the Butte Co., CA. birth record.
Alta's parents were 28, Merl and 18, Alice. at the time of her birth, and had been married nearly 10 months.
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Alta was married to John Briggs in about 1940. The couple had 2 children together and married each other twice before divorcing sometime latter.
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Following the divorce Alta was with Freddie McFall for some time, and together they had one daughter Norma Lelonie McFall (her surname may be Kelly, Briggs or McFall, as Alta and Freddie were not married).
By the mid 1970's Alta married Homer K. Bassett. Homer had been married twice before and also had at least seven children by his first wife Thelma before marrying Alta. The couple stayed together until Homer died in 1989. Alta passed away in 1991 in Oregon, and her cremains were interred in Chico, Butte Co., California, next to Homer Bassett. (Josephine Co., Oregon Death Certificate #91-06761).

Alta married MCFAUL, Fred Elmer Abt 1949, (May Not Have Been Married). Fred (son of MCFAUL, Joseph A. and ROUSE, Melissa) was born 30 Jan 1923, Merced County, California; died 27 Dec 1988, Pollock Pines, El Dorado County, California. [Group Sheet]

Alta married BASSETT, Homer King Aft 1960, Chico, Butte County, California. Homer (son of BASSETT, Don Henry and MEACHAM, Amanda Alvira) was born 18 Nov 1914, Lago, Bannock County, Idaho; died 22 Dec 1989, Chico, Butte County, California. [Group Sheet]

Alta married BRIGGS, John Franklin Abt 1941, Durham, Butte County, California. John (son of BRIGGS, John Levi and HAYTER, Viola Luella) was born 28 Jul 1904, Coquille, Coos County, Oregon; died 21 Jan 1998, Chico, Butte County, California. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Elsie or Betty as she was known, was adopted as a small child by the Ewertsen family, and became known as Betty Ann Ewertsen.
She married a man by the name of George Comaskey and lived in Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California.
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The 1930 census finds the Ewertsen family living at 1207 N. Lincoln, in Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California as follows:
Ewertsen Minert, W, M, 45, married at 23, b. Germany, parents b. Denmark, Grocery Store Proprietor, immigrated in 1911
Ewertsen Lydia, W, F, 46, married at 24, b. Wisconsin, parents b. Germany
Ewertsen Betty, W, F, 6, Single, attending school.
(Having been adopted her parents birth locations reflect those of the Ewertsen's).
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The 1920 census indicated Minert immigrated in 1903 and was naturalized in 1911.
There is an immigration record for a Carl Ewertsen age 27 who immigrated to Ellis Island in 1903.

Meinert's middle name was Christian, from his WWI draft registration card.
He was described as medium height with a stout build, blue eyes and light brown hair.
His wife was named Lydia Anna Ewertsen.
His family was living at 1207 N. Lincoln St., Stockton, CA.
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On the immigration record he stated he was a baker and was headed to his sister-in-laws home in Seattle, WA.
By 1910 he had married Lydia and was living in Stockton, CA.
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Social Security Number: 572-30-7421, Issued: California
Death Residence Localities: ZIP Code: 95204 Stockton, San Joaquin, California
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San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Gustine, Merced County, California
Comaskey, Betty Ann, b. 03/12/1924, d. 04/26/2000, US Army, T/SGT, Res: Stockton, CA, Plot: 3 0 91, bur. 05/03/2000
Buried next to Betty was a son:
Comaskey, Thomas George, b. 10/28/1942, d. 12/28/1995, US Navy, FA, Res: Stockton, CA, Plot: 4 0 1531, bur. 01/10/1996
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Ewertsen SSN Death records:
MEINERT EWERTSEN 22 May 1885 Aug 9, 1967 Gig Harbor, Pierce, WA CA (1963) 562-68-3909
LYDIA EWERTSEN 5 May 1883 Feb 1979 Chehalis, Lewis, WA CA (1966) 568-80-8039

Elsie married COMASKEY, George Thomas (son of COMASKEY, Thomas Sollie and BALL, Irene M.) [Group Sheet]

— WILLIAMS. [Group Sheet]

— LOWMAN. (son of LOWMAN, Rex Lloyd and GRUBBS, Geraldine) [Group Sheet]

— WISE. (daughter of WISE, William Arthur and AUFORT, Alma Celia) [Group Sheet]

— WHALEY, James Oliver. James (son of WHALEY, Oliver Howell and WISELEY, Gladys) was born 15 Sep 1912, Whitman County, Washington; died 24 Nov 1990, Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon. [Group Sheet]

— HANTEN. (son of HANTEN, Albert Nicholas and BOSWORTH, Esther Viola) [Group Sheet]

Thomas — SHUMAKER. [Group Sheet]

Thomas — BRECHT. [Group Sheet]

— GAMINO. [Group Sheet]

— HERNANDEZ. [Group Sheet]

— PAIGE. (son of PAIGE and JONES) [Group Sheet]