Amy Johnson Crow writes about the prompt: "Halloween is a time of surprises. What is something shocking or surprising that you've found about an ancestor? Shocking could also be a lightning strike or an electrical jolt. Remember — you're free to interpret the theme however you want!"
Lightning, that's exactly what happened to Iley on May 26th, 1937. Iley was a farmer and from everything I've heard - he was out in the field when he was struck and killed by lightning. His death certificate supports that -- his cause of death is "killed by lightning." It is listed as an accident -- well absolutely. The specifics go on to say, "on his farm, plowing when struck by lightning." Undoubtedly, his plow was metal and worked as a conductor for the lightning strike.
Iley was the son of Jefferson Davis "Jeff" Griffin and Sallie Belle Keach. The Griffin's and Keach's have been in the Niagara/Hebbardsville area of Henderson County for generations. Iley had a passel of siblings: at least seven.
Iley's first wife was Mary Lorene Freeman, who after bearing him at least three children, two of which died in infancy and a son, Ila Davis Griffin who survived to adulthood -- Mary passed away in 1935.
Soon after her passing, Iley re-married to Susan Lucille Willingham - another prominent last name in the Niagara/Hebbardsville areas. Iley and Susan were the parents of one son: Paul Felix Griffin, who had just been born on May 3rd, 1937... a few weeks before his father's untimely death.
Felix Griffin was a kind, respectful man who my family knew well. When my parents were children (long before they were my parents, of course), they lived out on Highway 416 in Niagara...and the Griffin's lived between them - Felix, his wife Joy, and their children. Felix and Joy babysat for both sets of my Grandparents...before they were my Grandparents.
After Iley's death, Susan went on to re-marry Willis Norton Moss and have two more children with him, a son and a daughter. She passed away in 1982 at the age of 66.
Iley lays to rest in Cash Creek Cemetery out in Niagara, near his parents, some siblings, and his first wife - although I don't believe he has a tombstone (surprisingly.) His second wife, Susan, was laid to rest with her second husband in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
Next time you're out at Cash Creek - take a moment to remember the Griffin family, and of course, Iley. Gone too soon, but never forgotten.
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