When Rosmer Kerr's mother died in 1937, he purchased four burial lots together: one for his mother, one for himself, one for his wife, and one for . . . whom? It seems an odd thing to have bought an extra one of, just in case. It appears the total cost was $72.75.
The deed was dated 14 July 1937, a full month after Kate Pettis Kerr was buried there.
Kate's grave marker was ordered June 22nd. It was to be made of Wisconsin Ruby Red Granite.
The manufacturer guaranteed "unconditionally, forever and for all time, that this granite will not fade, check, crack or disintegrate from exposure to the elements in any season or in any climate." That's quite a promise . . .
. . . especially considering the price!
When Karl Parker died at the end of January 1969, that extra fourth lot was put to use. Although Karl and the Kerrs' daughter Bonnie had been divorced a few years earlier, Karl was still considered a beloved son-in-law and was buried there.Rosmer joined him ten days later.
I'm scratchin' my head a little in regard to the plot map below. With Evelyn being the last man standing, so to speak, I'm surprised she would have had Rosmer buried next to Karl, rather than next to his mother. I tend to think she would have preferred to save Lot 8 for herself since she felt her relationship with her mother-in-law wasn't the warmest, whereas she would have been quite happy to think of herself resting for eternity between two of her three most beloved men (the third being my dad).
5 comments:
TK, I read this post with great interest. I am currently chasing a "non-existing/should have been" tombstone. No magical box from a "keeper" for me. I will keep in mind the cost --%59.74 --- especially when I finally run down the will or the deed exchanges. Thanks for a great insight.
Lovely post! Those documents are very interesting.
~Regina
This is fascinating, especially the plot map. It's great that your grandmother saved all these papers!
Thanks, ladies, I thought these papers were pretty interesting too.
It didn't immediately occur to me, but they could certainly be considered genealogically significant also. Because there was no official record of Rosmer's birth, nor any christening record that I know of (although it's entirely possible there could be one that I don't know of!), I think these documents could be used to help support his claim to Pettis ancestry if any of his descendants wished to join a lineage society such as Mayflower or DAR.
Boy, T.K. are you ever lucky to have those old documents. If I had lots of space, I would save everything. Glad you just discovered them.
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