Searching for the Obituary of Dorothy H. Coxwell

I'm searching for help in locating an obituary for my grandmother, Dorothy Helen (Hoke) Coxwell. I know that she was born in New York State on November 21, 1905 and died on March 10, 1981 in Clifton, Wayne Co., Tennessee. I've already contacted the Wayne County News, but they were not able to find an obituary notice for her in their archives. Coxwell was her married name that she kept after she had divorced her 3rd husband, Fred .V Coxwell. Her previous marriages were to Pierre Freiderich Hünerwadel, her first husband and father of Richard Saint Gaudens, and Claude Roland Perry, her second husband and father of my dad. I also know that she had died of a heart attack at our home in Clifton while I was at school.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Claude P Perry II

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Permalink Reply by Ann L. Wells on July 13, 2009 at 3:55pm

While obituaries can be goldmines, not everyone had one. If you have a copy of her death record, check to see what the mortuary was and contact them. They often have a copy of the obit or a note that will tell you if there was one.

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Permalink Reply by George Geder on July 13, 2009 at 7:49pm

Hi Claude,

Do you at least know which county or city she was born? Sometimes the obit is in the newspaper where she was born or grew up. This was the case for one of my ancestors.
Hope this helps.

Peace,
"Guide by the Ancestors"

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Permalink Reply by Claude P Perry II on July 14, 2009 at 2:55am

I'm fairly certain I recall seeing an obit for Grandma announcing when her funeral was going to be and where she was going to be buried. I even remember the viewing prior to the burial. And I know that the Wayne County (Tennessee) News does obits on a weekly basis. But Mom and Dad, last I heard, didn't keep a copy of that issue.

As for what county she would have been born in, it would be whatever county Manhattan, New York is in.

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Permalink Reply by Ann L. Wells on July 14, 2009 at 9:59pm

You might also try the local library (in Clifton) to see if they can look and mail you a copy. If not, you could try to get a copy of the newspaper via ILL through your local library.

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Permalink Reply by Claude P Perry II on July 14, 2009 at 10:24pm

Hi Ann, I already tried my local library here in the Orlando, Fl area and they have nothing. In regards to the Library in Clifton, I've not received an answer, via email, in regards to my inquiry as of yet.

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Permalink Reply by Ann L. Wells on July 15, 2009 at 7:38am

I wouldn't expect Orlando Library to have what you are after, but they should be able to check for the newspaper via Inter-Library Loan. If the Clifton Library doesn't hold copies of the paper, then try ILL. Sometimes there is a small fee, but you have to weigh that against not getting the obit at all.

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Permalink Reply by Claude P Perry II on July 15, 2009 at 7:51am

Hi Ann,

I just sent off a request to The Courier in Hardin County, Tennessee to see if they might have a copy of my grandmother's obit there. If they don't have a copy, I'll check with the ILL here for Seminole and Orange Counties, here in Florida, since the zip code where I live falls technically within Seminole County.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy Johnston Sorley on July 14, 2009 at 11:23pm

Name: Dorothy Coxwell
[Dorothy Helen Hoke]
SSN:
Last Residence: 38425 Clifton, Wayne, Tennessee, United States of America
Born: 21 Nov 1905
Last Benefit: 38372 Savannah, Hardin, Tennessee, United States of America
Died: Mar 1981
State (Year) SSN issued: Florida (Before 1951)

Claude what is up with the Savannah Benefit? Since Clifton and Savannah are in different counties but only 25 minutes apart, you might find an obit in Hardin County.

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Permalink Reply by Claude P Perry II on July 15, 2009 at 7:55am

Cindy,

If I remember correctly, Shackleford Funeral Home, in Savannah, Tennessee is where my grandmother's viewing was. I remember the viewing well, as I was afraid to go up to her coffin in fear that she would sit up in her coffin and glare at me lol.