Person Page

     William Clifford Burge was born on 9 January 1874 in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan.^4,2 He married Bertha Antoinette Tracy, daughter of Charles Bezaleel Tracy and Ada M. Price, on 14 January 1907 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.² He died on 17 January 1957 at the Easterly Nursing Home in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, at age 83.^4,5 He was buried on 21 January 1957 following a Masonic service at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan.^5,4
     He and his wife Bertha lived in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, where they are listed in the censuses from 1910 to 1940. In 1940 they had five lodgers living with them.^6,7,8,9 They owned and operated the Burge and Burge grocery store in South Haven^10,3, and he also worked as a fireman.³

     John Horace Malbone was born on 8 May 1877 in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan.^2,3 He married Susie Maud Tracy, daughter of Charles Bezaleel Tracy and Ada M. Price, on 18 December 1906 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 16 December 1948 in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, at age 71.³ He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan.³
     He worked most of his life for his father John Solomon Malbone, owner and manager of Malbone Hardware in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan,^4,5 and his obituary describes him as a lifelong resident of the South Haven area.⁴ However, his father sold the store in 1907 and moved to Virginia.⁵ He and his wife Susie apparently went with him, at least for a time, as their son Gordon was born there in September 1908.⁶
     In 1910 he and Susie were living in Eugene, Lane Co., Oregon, along with Susie's sister Della. He was still working as a hardware merchant.⁷ He is listed a second time in the 1910 census, as a boarder, and hardware manager and salesman, with the family of Adelbert Hadley in Mendon, St. Joseph Co., Michigan.⁸
     In 1911 his father bought back the hardware store⁵, and they returned to South Haven, where they were living when John registered for the World War I draft in 1918.⁹ By 1920, however, they had moved to Jonesboro Twp., Craighead Co., Arkansas, and John was working as a lumberman.¹⁰ They did eventually return again to South Haven, and are listed there in the 1930 and 1940 censuses. In 1940 John's father, and his (John Jr.'s) widowed sister Winifred Farrend, were living with them.^11,12

     Mary L. Jones was probably born on 16 June 1888 in either Dundee Twp. or London Twp., Monroe Co., Michigan.^3,4,2,5 She was married by W. R. Turner, J. P., to Rolland Ray Evans, son of Albert Elton Evans and Charity Mabel Burlingham, on 28 November 1904 in West Branch, Ogemaw Co., Michigan.¹ They were divorced on 29 October 1932 (filed by Mary 30 July 1932 charging non-support) in Kent Co., Michigan.⁶ She died on 12 April 1935 at City General Hospital in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, from the effects of a stroke.^2,7,3 She was buried on 15 April 1935 at Greenwood Cemetery (Block U, Lot 14, Space 8) in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.^2,8,9
     She and her husband Ray were living in Otsego Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan, in 1910.¹⁰ Iin 1918, when her husband registered for the World War I draft, he, and presumably she and their children, were living in Korelock, Ontonagon Co., Michigan.¹¹ By 1920 they had moved to Emmett, Gem Co., Idaho, where Ray's mother and stepfather, and his mother's brother Justin Burlingham, were living.¹²

     Loata M. Evans was born on 24 May 1905 in Rose City, Ogemaw Co., Michigan.^3,4 She died on 26 September 1986 in Sand Lake, Kent Co., Michigan, at age 81.⁴ She was buried at Rosedale Memorial Park in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.⁵
     She had "brain fever" when young, and as a result had the mind of a six-year-old.³ She lived for a time, from at least 1935 to 1940, at the Lapeer State Home in Elba Twp., Lapeer Co., Michigan,⁶ and later at a home in Sand Lake, Kent Co., Michigan.³

     Floyd Joseph Evans was born on 8 June 1907 in Rose City, Ogemaw Co., Michigan.^5,2,6 He married first Catherine Marie Toon, daughter of John Hilary Toon and Teresa Neomia Willett, on 23 November 1927 at Assumption Catholic Church in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.^2,4 He married second Matilda Veronica Hagan, daughter of James Herman Hagan and Lula Mae Blandford, on 29 November 1941 at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in St. Vincent, Union Co., Kentucky.^2,3 He died on 23 July 1979 at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, at age 72. He was having a heart pacemaker installed, and suffered a heart attack in the emergency room.^3,2 He was buried on 26 July 1979 at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery (Sect. 14, Block 1, Lot 133-B, Grave 1) in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.^7,3
     He had a nickname of "Shorty."^2,8
     His daughter wrote in an email that he left home at age 14, and lied about his age to join the Army. However, his death certificate says that he was never in the armed forces.^2,3
     He and his first wife Catherine were living in Pueblo, Pueblo Co., Colorado, in 1930, along with Catherine's widowed mother Teresa.⁹ By 1935 they, including Teresa, had moved to Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, where they are listed in the 1940 census.¹⁰ In 1950 he and his second wife Matilda were living in Pigeon Twp., Vanderburgh Co.¹¹
     In Colorado he was working as a truck driver for a wholesale furniture company, but later became a millwright, working for Whirlpool for 38 years.^9,10,11,8
     He had kidney problems later in life, requiring use of a dialysis machine.²

     Catherine Marie Toon was born on 30 January 1900 in Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky.^1,4 She married Floyd Joseph Evans, son of Rolland Ray Evans and Mary L. Jones, on 23 November 1927 at Assumption Catholic Church in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.^5,1 She died of tuberculosis on 12 January 1941 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, at age 40.^1,5 She was buried on 15 January 1941 at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.^5,2,1
     She is listed as Catherine Marie on her death certificate, and as Marie on her cemetery marker, but she apparently also used the middle name Irene.^5,6,7 She and her husband Floyd were living in Pueblo, Pueblo Co., Colorado, in 1930, along with her widowed mother Teresa.⁶ By 1935 they, including Teresa, had moved to Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, where they are listed in the 1940 census.⁷

     Matilda Veronica Hagan was born on 26 February 1919 in Waverly, Union Co., Kentucky.^1,3,2 She married Floyd Joseph Evans, son of Rolland Ray Evans and Mary L. Jones, on 29 November 1941 at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in St. Vincent, Union Co., Kentucky.^1,4 She died on 9 July 1993 at Welborn Hospital in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, at age 74 from heart failure.^3,2,1 She was buried on 13 July 1993 at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.^3,5,1
     In 1950 she and her husband Floyd were living in Pigeon Twp., Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.⁶ She suffered from diabetes and kidney problems.¹

     Esther Uella Evans was born on 11 June 1909 in Twining, Arenac Co., Michigan.^4,3,5 She married Ross Bond Reyburn, son of John Reyburn and Adelia Miller, on 12 April 1931 at the Plainfield Ave. M.E. Church in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.³ She died on 14 January 1985 at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri, at age 75.⁵ She was buried on 17 January 1985 at Rosedale Memorial Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.^6,7
     In 1940 she was living as a widow with her two daughters in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.⁸ She was doing factory work at the time of her marriage, was a wrapper for an auto parts company in 1940, and later became a schoolteacher.^3,8,1

     Ross Bond Reyburn was born on 6 August 1911 in Cedar Springs, Kent Co., Michigan, (his death certificate says in Algoma Twp., Kent Co.)^2,1 He married Esther Uella Evans, daughter of Rolland Ray Evans and Mary L. Jones, on 12 April 1931 at the Plainfield Ave. M.E. Church in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 22 July 1934 at Sunshine Hospital in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, at age 22 from TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) meningitis.² He was buried on 25 July 1934 at Rosedale Memorial Park in Tallmadge, Ottawa Co., Michigan.^3,4
     He was a farmer.^1,2

     Leland Arthur Evans was born on 15 September 1911 in Pellston, Emmet Co., Michigan.^1,2 He died on 3 July 1919 in Emmett, Gem Co., Idaho, at age 7 from lobar pneumonia, with a congenital heart lesion as a contributory factor.¹ He was buried on 4 July 1919 at Riverside Cemetery in Emmett, Gem Co., Idaho.^3,1

     Meda Aileen Evans was born on 3 May 1913 in Pellston, Emmet Co., Michigan.⁴ She died on 14 June 2001 at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, at age 88.¹ She was buried on 16 June 2001 at Rosedale Memorial Park in Tallmadge, Ottawa Co., Michigan.^1,5
     She never married, but remained close to her brothers and sisters, and often spent vacations with her brother Floyd and his family.⁴ She was employed at the Sunbeam factory, and did volunteer work for several organizations, including the Veterans Home in Grand Rapids, the Kent Community Hospital, and, for more than 70 years, the Salvation Army.^1,4

     Alice Irene Evans was born on 16 January 1916 in Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan.^5,3,4 She married William Clark West, son of Franklin B. West and Arah B. Winkler, on 9 January 1937 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.³ She died on 27 January 1987 in San Clemente, Orange Co., California, at age 71.^6,4 She was buried on 30 January 1987 at Rosedale Memorial Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.^6,7,5
     After their marriage she and her husband William remained in Kent Co., Michigan, for several years. They are listed there in Grand Rapids in the 1940 census, and in Cascade in the 1950 census. Alice's brother Ray was living with them in 1940.^8,9 William was then working as a welder and maintenance man for a metal products company.^8,9
     They later moved to California¹⁰, where William worked for Parker-Hannifin as a government welder before retiring in 1985.¹⁰ They then returned to Michigan, moving to Rockford, Kent Co., about 14 miles north of Grand Rapids¹⁰, but for the next few years William went back to California in the winter to work as a welder.¹⁰

     William Clark West was born on 22 April 1916 in Connersville, Fayette Co., Indiana.³ He married Alice Irene Evans, daughter of Rolland Ray Evans and Mary L. Jones, on 9 January 1937 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 6 April 2002 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, at age 85.^4,2,5 He was buried on 9 April 2002 at Rosedale Memorial Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.^4,6
     After their marriage he and his wife Alice remained in Kent Co., Michigan, for several years. They are listed there in Grand Rapids in the 1940 census, and in Cascade in the 1950 census. Alice's brother Ray was living with them in 1940.^7,8 William was then working as a welder and maintenance man for a metal products company.^7,8
     They later moved to California⁴, where he worked for Parker-Hannifin as a government welder before retiring in 1985.⁴ They then moved back to Kent Co., Michigan, to the town of Rockford, about 14 miles north of Grand Rapids⁴, but for the next few years he returned to California to work as a welder during the winter.⁴
     He liked going to auctions and garage sales, dancing to big-band music, and bingo.^4,5

     Mable Eleanor Evans was born on 7 August 1918 in Korelock, Ontonagon Co., Michigan.^4,3 She married Thomas Duane Riley on 30 April 1935 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.³ She died on 15 June 1979 at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, at age 60.^4,5 She was buried on 18 June 1979 at Kent Memorial Gardens in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.^6,5
     She is listed here as Mable Eleanor, but may have been Eleanor Mable. She is listed as Mable in the 1920 and 1950 censuses, in her parents' divorce record, and in her mother's obituary. She is listed as Eleanor M. in her marriage record and in the 1940 census.^1,7,2,8,3,9
     She and her husband Thomas were living in Alanson, Emmet Co., Michigan, in 1940¹⁰, and in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, in 1950.⁷

     Thomas Duane Riley was born on 3 June 1914 in Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio.^3,1 He married Eleanor Mable Evans, daughter of Rolland Ray Evans and Mary L. Jones, on 30 April 1935 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.¹ He died on 18 March 2003 in Kent Co., Michigan, at age 88.^4,3 He was buried on 20 March 2003 at Kent Memorial Gardens in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.^4,5
     He and his wife Eleanor were living in Alanson, Emmet Co., Michigan, in 1940⁶, and in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, in 1950.⁷ He was working as a station agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Alanson in 1940^6,8, and as a bartender in 1950.⁷