(Father: Herbert “Herb” William Puryear 1887-1918)

(Mother: Corrie Jean Flanagin 1883-1964)

(Wife: Barbara K. Kovalenko 1910-1984)

 

~~1910~~

Barbara Kovalenko was born on February 27, 1910, in Custer Flat, North Dakota. She was two months old in her first census. Barbara and her two older siblings, George and Frances are the first generation in her family to be born in America.

Richard Thomas Puryear was born on August 13, 1911, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His father, Herbert, was 24 and his mother, Corie, was 27. Herbert and the family were farming in Canada when Richard Thomas was born. They came home to Iowa before Richard was around 2 years old.

~~~~~

Richard’s dad, Herbert, died in 1918 of pneumonia at the age of 31, leaving Cora to raise Giles 10, Richard 7, and Gweneth 7 mos.

~~1920~~

1920 US Federal Census. Iowa / Page Co/ Nodaway/District 0114

Name

Relation

Birth Month/Year

Age

Sex

Race

Marital Status

Child. Born/Living

Education At School/ Read/ Write

Birth-place

Fathers Birth- place

Mothers Birth-place

Occupation

Puryear, Corrie

Head

9/1883

34

F

W

WD

3/3

-, Yes, Yes

IA

Germany*

PA

Laundress

Giles H

Son

11/ 1908

11

M

W

S

–

Yes, Yes, Yes

IA

IA

IA

–

Richard T

Son

8/1911

8

M

W

S

–

Yes,-,-

Canada US/Citz

IA

IA

–

Gweneth N

Dau

4/1918

1 9/12

F

W

S

–

-,-,-

IA

IA

IA

–

In 1920 Corrie worked as a Laundress to provide for herself and her children. They lived in Nodaway, which is northeast of Clarinda, Iowa. Not sure why her father is listed as being from Germany when he was from Ireland.

~~~~~

1925 Iowa State Census. Iowa / Page Co/ Clarinda

Name

Relation

Birth Month/ Year

Age

Sex

Race

Marital Status

Child. Born/Living

Education At School/ Read/ Write

Birth-place

Father Birth-place

Mother Birth-place

Occupation

Puryear, Corrie

Head

9/1883

39

F

W

WD

3/3

(10th)No, Yes, Yes

IA

Germany

PA

Giles H

Son

11/ 1908

16

M

W

S

–

10th, Yes Yes, Yes

IA

IA

IA

–

Richard T

Son

8/1911

13

M

W

S

–

6th, Yes, Yes, Yes

Canada US/Citz

IA

IA

–

Gweneth N

Dau

4/1918

6

F

W

S

–

2nd, Yes, Yes, Yes

IA

IA

IA

–

Sometime between 1920-1925, the family moved to Clarinda, Iowa, where other Puryear relatives lived.

~~~~~

This is the 1925 North Dakota state census. The family was living and farming in Freda, Grant County, North Dakota. Barbara’s parents Prokofi and Katharina, had 8 children George 19, Francis 16, Barbara 15, Celestina 14, Peter 12, Matilda 11, Philomena 9, and Rose 5.

~~1930~~

Because most of the 1930 census was destroyed, I’m not sure when, why, or how Richard Thomas ended up in North Dakota? If you know, please let me know. Thank You!

~~~~~

~~~~~

On November 20, 1935, Richard Herbert Puryear was born in the small town of Forks, Washington.

On May 23, 1936, Lloyd Albert was born in Tacoma, Washington.

~~1940~~

1940 US Federal Census Washington/Pierce/Tacoma

Name

Relation

Birth Month/Year

Age

Sex

Race

Marital Status

Child. Born/Living

Education: At School/Read/Write

Birth-place

FatherBirth-place

Mother Birth-place

Occupation

Puryear, Richard

Head

8/1911

29

M

W

M

(6th)

Canada

IA

IA

Attendant @ St Hospital

Barbara

Wife

2/1910

30

F

W

S

2/2

(6th)

ND

Ukraine

Ukraine

–

Richard

Son

11/1935

5

M

W

S

–

No

WA

Canada

ND

–

Lloyd

Son

5/1936

4

M

W

S

–

No

WA

Canada

ND

–

At 6 years old, Richard Herbert fell off his bicycle while riding with his friend on the corner of 70th and Junett. He cut his forehead and was treated at the county hospital

~~~~~

Registration Draft Card 1940

Richard was working at the Washington State Hospital in 1940. Richard Thomas was 5 ft 11 3/4, 185 lbs, blue eyes, and blond hair. He had a tattoo on his left arm.

~~~~~

Sallie Louise was Born on February 10, 1944, in Tacoma, Washington

On November 29, 1945, Barbei Ann was born in Tacoma, Washington

~~1950~~

In this 1950 census, Richard and Barbara lived on Junett street in Tacoma, Washington. Richard was working as a shovel oiler at a construction company. Richard, Lloyd, and Sallie would be attending school.

~~~~~

Richard and Lloyd attended Saint Martin’s Highschool in Lacey, Washington, in 1951. Richard was a Sophomore, and Lloyd was a Freshman.

~~~~~

~~~~~

~~~~~

On October 4, 1953, Richard Herbert married Miss Gertrude Ann Zajac at Holy Rosary in Tacoma, Washington.

~~~~~

Lloyd Albert married Miss Jean Ehli on October 13, 1956, at Visitation Church in Tacoma, Washington.

~~1960~~

Sallie Louise 18, married James Stickney Jr 19, on August 19, 1961 in Coeur D’ Alene Idaho. They were married for 15 years when James was hit by another car and passed away in July of 1976. He was a soldier in the Army at his time of passing.

~~~~~

~~~~~~

John attended Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington and graduated June 5, 1970

~~~~~

On September 8, 1984, Barbara passed away at the age of 74. Her final resting place is at Calvary Cemetery Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. It is a beautiful cemetery that also has her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and other relatives

~~~~~

How sad. Lloyd and Bertha Puryear were hit by a drunk driver while riding their motorcycle Memorial Day weekend, May 28, 1985.

~~2000~~

These are the only 2 articals I can find on Barbei and Stewart. Stewart died from a motorcycle crash near Eatonville in 1980. Barbei passed away at the age of 54 on January 17, 2000 in Tacoma.

~~~~~

Sallie Louise passed away on May 17, 2006 in Tacoma, Wa.

~~~~~

John Passed away November 8, 2011in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington

And as always, To be continued…