Corydon Farmer Drops Dead While at Work

 

While I was working on my Gibson Cemetery project, I came across this article/obituary for George William Koonce, who sadly, at just 48 years young, dropped dead of presumably a heart attack while at work on the farm. 

Let me introduce you to Mr. Koonce. He was born on October 29th, 1872, in Cairo, Henderson County, KY. The son of Owen Thomas Koonce and Martha Ann "Mattie" Gibson, he married Miss Lou Inez Mills sometime in about 1915 or 1916. 

They became the parents of two children: Andrew Jackson Koonce and Georgia. Unfortunately, Mr. Koonce never got to meet his daughter. George died on February 10th, 1919, and his daughter, Georgia, was born on March 14th, 1919. I dare say she was named Georgia in memory of her dear father. 

To make this tragic tale even worse: just a few months later, their son, Andrew, died at almost two years old on August 30th, 1919. He was accidentally burned by scalding hot water. Bless his little heart. 

Lou Inez went on to remarry and have another daughter later in life. She died in 1973. The first daughter, Georgia, lived a long life and passed away in 2006. George and the young son, Andrew, are laid to rest in Gibson Cemetery - both unmarked, or at least I haven't dug up their tombstones yet. 

I imagine George and his young son might be located close to either his Koonce grandparents or his Gibson grandparents as both sets are buried in Gibson Cemetery. Without a tombstone, it's hard for historians and genealogists alike to remember and honor George and Andrew -- but, as their relative, it's my duty to make sure they aren't forgotten. Both have a Find-a-Grave now with death certificates and in George's case, an obituary as well. 

Rest in heavenly peace, my 2nd cousin 4x removed and 3rd cousin 3x removed.