Georgia L McClelland & Francis J Fuller

Georgia Lewis McClelland was Birda's older sister.

After divorcing her husband, H Linn McClelland, between 1935-1940,

She remarried Francis Joseph Fuller on 7 Jan 1949 in San Francisco, California.

Thus, she became Georgia Lewis McClelland Fuller... at least for a time...

No photos of Georgia and Francis can be procured at this time.

:(

California Marriage Index, 1949-1959:

SOURCE: ancestry.com
Further source info is located in lower highlighted box on image

This union is still a mystery to me as family records and civil records indicate that it did indeed occur, but on Georgia's obituary she is listed as "Georgia McClelland" and on Francis' obituary Georgia is not mentioned, even as a surviving spouse.  It leads me to assume that between 1949 and 1957 (when Francis died) that their marriage ended, and she reverted back to her initially married name.

Dates and reasons are foggy on both divorces for Georgia, and without clarity from surviving descendants it's been difficult to assemble this picture together.  Further investigation into California Marriage/Divorce Records should help clear things up, but until finances or public records become available to sort this out, it will remain a mystery...

Death info on Joseph Francis Fuller

Joseph Francis Fuller was a brother-in-law to Birda.

He married Birda's older sister, Georgia (although they later were divorced.)

No photo for J.F. Fuller

:(

According to these documents the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 22/23 Sept 1889- ,, California*

DEATH: 2 Jan 1957- San Francisco, San Francisco, California

He was 67 years old when he died.

California Death Index:

SOURCE: ancestry.com
(See citations in bottom portion of image)

WWI draft card:

SOURCE: familysearch.org
*Included as it gives a derivative date of birth: 23 Sept 1889

 Obituary:

SOURCE: San Francisco Examiner 1957, Jan 4, Sec III, p.19
Obtained via email through the Magazines & Newspapers Center
of the San Francisco Public Library, request Feb 2014

Obituary transcribed:

FULLER- In San Francisco, Jan 2, 1957.  Francis Joseph Fuller, dearly beloved father of Mrs. Grace M. Eastburn of Mill Valley, Mrs. Dorothy J. Sparrow of Great Falls, Montana, Mrs. Doris Salopek and Frank G. Fuller, both of San Carlos, survived by seven grandchildren; a native of San Franciso, aged 67 years.

Friends are invited to attend funeral services Friday at 2 p.m. at the Crippen & Flynn Chapel, 1414 El Camino Real, Redwood City.  Interment, Alta Mesa Memorial Park.

As he died in California, it will be tricky for me to procure a copy of his death certificate to post here, although it would prove helpful in filling in some gaps.  As Georgia is not mentioned in his obituary (as surviving or preceding him in death) and Georgia's obituary does not list her last name as Fuller (but rather her previously married name of McClelland from her first marriage) it is assumed that although they married in CA in 1949 that the marriage did not last and dissolved sometime before his death in 1957.  I would love some clarity on this, but have not been able to find any yet.... to be continued, I suppose...

Death info on Linn McClelland

Horatio Linn McClelland was one of Birda's brother-in-laws.

He married Birda's older sister, Georgia.

There is no available photo of Linn McClelland at this time.  :(

I know, it makes me sad too.

According to this document, the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 8 Jul 1889- Cascade, El Paso, Colorado

DEATH: 25 Sept 1967- Grand Junction, Mesa, Colorado

He was 78 years old when he died.

Death notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1967, Oct 5, p. 17

Death notice transcribed:

Ex-Resident Dies in Grand Junction, Colo.

Linn McClelland died at St. Mary's hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado where he had been a patient since September 5.  Funeral services were held from the Sowder Funeral Home in Rifle, Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Otto B. Duckworth officiating.  Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery.

Horatio Linn McClelland, the son of Taylor and Margaret Jackson McClelland was born on July 8, 1889 at Cascade, Colorado and died September 25, 1967 at Grand Junction, Colorado at the age of 78.

Mr. McClelland's parents moved to Vernal when he was a small boy and there he grew to manhood.  He was united in marriage with Georgia Lewis in 1909 at Vernal.  Mr. and Mrs. McClelland made their home in various communities in Utah, including Vernal, Sunnyside and Price prior to their moving to California in 1925.  Mr. McClelland made his home in San Francisco until 1936 when he returned to Colorado where he lived in Rangely, Meeker and Rifle communities.  Mr. McClelland was a sheep rancher by profession.

Survivors include a son, Gordon T. McClelland of San Mateo, California and a daughter, Mrs. Harold Roll of Oakland, California, two grandchildren and other relatives.

* Spelling and punctuation adjusted wherein I was aware.

Because Linn died in the last 50 years, his death certificate will not become publicly available until around the year 2017... if that.  I'm not sure how publicly available death certificates are from Colorado archives, but if I can get ahold of a copy in due time, I will post it here.

Photos of some of Birda's siblings when in youth

The following are photos of some of Birda's siblings in their younger days.

"Some Lewis siblings- Mary, Charlie, Georgia, Frank"
From the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

"Charlie Lewis standing, unknown seated"
From the personal albums of Patty Stewart

"Green River Swimming-
Likely Jennie far left, Asher next to her, Charlie standing,
Mary with arm around husband Charles Hatch,
children and other man far left unknown"
From the personal albums of Glen Hatch

"Birda, Frank and wife Frances, little Virginia with the doll"
From the personal albums of Tamera Lund

"Frank Lewis in his store, maybe 1930s"
From personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

"Siney Lewis Jr working in confectionery shop, maybe 1918"
From the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak

Georgia Lewis & Linn McClelland

Georgia Lewis was one of Birda's older sisters.

She married Linn McClelland (of Vernal, Utah) on 9 April 1912 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah.

Thus, she became Georgia Lewis McClelland.

Georgia and Linn*
From the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

Marriage License Notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1912, Apr 12, p.6

Marriage License notice transcribed:

"Licensed to Wed... Linn McClelland and Georgia Lewis both of Vernal."

Marriage License:

SOURCE: familysearch.org

Wedding announcement:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1912, Apr 12, p.1

Wedding announcement transcribed:

McClelland Lewis Nuptials

Mr. Linn McClelland and Miss Georgia Lewis have entered the ranks of the married folks.  They were united in marriage Tuesday afternoon by Bishop Hyrum B. Calder.  Miss Lewis is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Siney Lewis of Glines ward.


*Georgia had a second marriage to a Francis J. Fuller in 1949.  The photos came from a family group sheet, and as the husband pictured was not labeled and I've found NO other photos of Linn McClelland, it is assumed that the above photo is of him.

Death info on Georgiana L Fuller

Georgiana Lewis McClelland Fuller was one of Birda's older sisters.

She also went by "Georgie", "Georgia", and "Georgianna".

Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley

According to this document (and family records) the following dates apply:

BIRTH: 12 July 1889/1890- Midway, Wasatch, Utah

DEATH: 10 Aug 1961- Oakland, Alameda, California

She was 71 years old when she died.

SOURCE: Oakland Tribune 1961, Aug 11, p.41E

Obituary transcribed:

McCLELLAND, Georgia L., at rest August 10, 1961, loving mother of Mrs. W.J. Amonio and Gordon T. McClelland; devoted grandmother of Lynne and Kerry McClelland.  A native of Utah; aged 71 years.  A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Friends are respectfully invited to attend the services Sunday, August 13 at 4 p.m. at the New Colonial Chapel, 2626 High Street.  Services conducted by the Second Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Entombment, private. (For further information please phone KE 6-5454.)

Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley
Cropped from larger family photo

Georgia should have a death certificate available publicly, but because she died in California, it may be some time before I can procure it here.  Her birth date needs to be verified in some way, and her marital info could be clarified further as she was named in the newspaper as a McClelland but she had remarried a second time in 1949 to a Mr. Francis J. Fuller.  Why her Fuller surname was not used is a mystery.  I shall have to investigate...