1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol#__(1961); Page 351; WV Archives Web Site.
Okey Charles Lester; age 19; born in Welch, WV; single; living at Asco, WV; married on 15 Oct 1961
in Davy, WV; Bonnie Sue Musick; age 17; born in Welch, WV; single; living in Asco, WV; with consent
of Eli and Jannie Lester, parents of Okey Charles Lester; and Floyd and Edith Musick, parents of
Bonnie Sue Musick.
2. Buchanan Co, VA; Marriage License #76-016770; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Okey Charles Lester; age 35; born 14 Oct 1942 in WV; single; this is his 1st marriage (sic, previously
married); 7th grade education; living in Davy, WV; son of Eli and Janie (Shepherd) Lester; married on
25 May 1976 in Grundy, VA; Virgie Faye Patrick, maiden name Bolden; age 29; born 31 Aug 1946 in
WV; divorced; this is her 2nd marriage; 8th grade education; living at Davy, WV; daughter of Clyde
and Eva Mae (Hicks) Bolden.
3. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Okey Charles Lester
[Okey C Lester]
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 14 Oct 1942
Birth Place: Welch McDowe, West Virginia
Death Date: 28 Mar 2003
Father: Eli Lester
Mother: Janie Shepard
SSN: 234689024
Notes: Feb 1961: Name listed as OKEY CHARLES LESTER;
16 Apr 2003: Name listed as OKEY C LESTER"
4. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by B. Walls; 12 Jul 2013.
" Okey Charles Lester
Birth 14 Oct 1942
Death 28 Mar 2003 (aged 60)
West Virginia, USA
Burial
Justice Cemetery
Asco, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA"
1. Buchanan Co, VA; Marriage License #76-016770; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Okey Charles Lester; age 35; born 14 Oct 1942 in WV; single; this is his 1st marriage (sic, previously
married); 7th grade education; living in Davy, WV; son of Eli and Janie (Shepherd) Lester; married on
25 May 1976 in Grundy, VA; Virgie Faye Patrick, maiden name Bolden; age 29; born 31 Aug 1946 in
WV; divorced; this is her 2nd marriage; 8th grade education; living at Davy, WV; daughter of Clyde
and Eva Mae (Hicks) Bolden.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol#__(1961); Page 351; WV Archives Web Site.
Okey Charles Lester; age 19; born in Welch, WV; single; living at Asco, WV; married on 15 Oct 1961
in Davy, WV; Bonnie Sue Musick; age 17; born in Welch, WV; single; living in Asco, WV; with consent
of Eli and Jannie Lester, parents of Okey Charles Lester; and Floyd and Edith Musick, parents of
Bonnie Sue Musick.
2. Buchanan Co, VA; Marriage License #76-016770; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Okey Charles Lester; age 35; born 14 Oct 1942 in WV; single; this is his 1st marriage (sic, previously
married); 7th grade education; living in Davy, WV; son of Eli and Janie (Shepherd) Lester; married on
25 May 1976 in Grundy, VA; Virgie Faye Patrick, maiden name Bolden; age 29; born 31 Aug 1946 in
WV; divorced; this is her 2nd marriage; 8th grade education; living at Davy, WV; daughter of Clyde
and Eva Mae (Hicks) Bolden.
3. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Okey Charles Lester
[Okey C Lester]
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 14 Oct 1942
Birth Place: Welch McDowe, West Virginia
Death Date: 28 Mar 2003
Father: Eli Lester
Mother: Janie Shepard
SSN: 234689024
Notes: Feb 1961: Name listed as OKEY CHARLES LESTER;
16 Apr 2003: Name listed as OKEY C LESTER"
4. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by B. Walls; 12 Jul 2013.
" Okey Charles Lester
Birth 14 Oct 1942
Death 28 Mar 2003 (aged 60)
West Virginia, USA
Burial
Justice Cemetery
Asco, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA"
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol#__(1961); Page 351; WV Archives Web Site.
Okey Charles Lester; age 19; born in Welch, WV; single; living at Asco, WV; married on 15 Oct 1961
in Davy, WV; Bonnie Sue Musick; age 17; born in Welch, WV; single; living in Asco, WV; with consent
of Eli and Jannie Lester, parents of Okey Charles Lester; and Floyd and Edith Musick, parents of
Bonnie Sue Musick.
1. 1910 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; taken on 2 Apr 1910; Page 132B; Image 20
of 77; Family #172/174.
Listed as Mazy Lester; age 12; born in WV; in household of step-father, Houston Richards.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1913); Page 347; WV Archives Web Site.
Preston Church; age 22; born in Wyoming Co, WV; single; laborer; living in WV; son of Albert
and Louisa; married on 13 Dec 1913 at residence of minister, W.V. Burks; Mazy Church; age
17; born in Pocahantas Co, WV; single; daughter of William D. and Barbary.
3. 1920 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; taken 19/21 Jan 1920; Page 160A; Image
12 of 24; Family #314/359.
Listed as Mazie Church; age 22; born in WV; married; in household of husband, Preston R. Church.
1. 1910 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; taken on 2 Apr 1910; Page 132A; Image 19
of 77; Family #172/174.
Listed as Eli Lester; age 15; born in WV; in household of step-father, Houston Richards.
2. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: William E Luster
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 44
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 12 Aug 1897
Birth Place: Kimball, West Virginia, USA
Residence Place: Iaeger, Mcdowell, West Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
Registration Place: Iaeger, Mcdowell, West Virginia, USA
Employer: Andy Cline
Weight: 125
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Height: 5 2
Next of Kin: Janie Luster
Household Members:
Name Relationship
William E Luster Self (Head)
Janie Luster Wife"
3. 1920 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Houston Coal Co, Carswell; taken on 26/27
Jan, 1920; Page 164B; Image 21 of 24; Family #408/452.
Listed as William E. Luster; age 24; born in WV; single; laborer; works out; in household of
step-father, Houston R. Richards.
4. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1926); Page 332; WV Archives Web Site.
Eli Lester; age 26; born in McDowell Co, WV; single; miner; living at Hensley, WV; son of Dave and
Barbara; married on 5 Aug 1926 at Welch, WV; Lena Ati Church; age 18; born in McDowell Co, WV;
single; daughter of S.H. and Nancy.
5. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV, Browns Creek District, taken on 24 Apr 1930, Page 118B, Image
59 of 62; Family #569/591.
Listed as Eli Lester; age 35; born in WV; divorced; timber man in lumber industry; baorder; in
household of Lorenzo Dowell Lockhart.
6. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1934); Page 356; WV Archives Web Site.
Eli Lester; age 36; born in McDowell Co, WV; living at Hensley, WV; son of Dave and Barb Lester;
married on 24 Aug 1934 in Hanover, WV; Jane Shepherd; age 22; born in Wyoming Co, WV; living
in Hensley, WV; daughter of Leonard and Juda Shepherd.
7. 1940 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek District; E.D. 55-8; taken 26 Apr 1940; Page 182B;
Image 35 of 43; Household #275.
Listed as Eli Lester; age 45; born in WV; married; 2nd grade education; lived in same house on 1
Apr 1935; farmer; head of household.
8. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Willie Lester
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 12 Aug 1896
Death Date: 6 May 1966
SSN: 235261619
Enlistment Date 1: 7 Oct 1917
Release Date 1: 13 Mar 1918"
9. Raleigh Co, WV; Death Certificate #'66 007644; WV Archives Web Site.
William Eli Lester age 75; born 12 Aug 1890 in McDowell Co, WV; married; coal miner; served in
WW I; SS #235-26-1619; living at Davy, WV; son of Dave and Barbara (Richards) Lester; died 6 May
1966 in VA Hospital, Beckley, WV; due to cardiac insufficiency; chronic arteriosclerotic heart disease;
generalized arteriosclerosis; buried 8 May 1966 in Justice Cemetery, Asco, WV.
10. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by B. Walls; 12 Jul 2013.
" William Eli Lester
Birth 12 Aug 1890
West Virginia, USA
Death 6 May 1966 (aged 75)
Burial
Justice Cemetery
Asco, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA "Additional Information Posted:
"W. E. LESTER Wilton Eli Lester. 75. of Davy, died Friday in a Beckley hospital following an illness of the past six years. He was born in McDowell County, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Dave Lester. He was a veteran of World War I and a resident of Davy for the past 19 years. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Jannie Shepherd Lester of Davy; three daughters, Mrs. Svlvia McFarlin and Mrs. Glenna Shirley of Quincy. Ohio, and Brenda Lester of Davy; three sons, Okey Charles. Otis William and Ozie Lester of Davy ; five sisters Mrs. Mabte Lowe of Sandy Huff, Mrs. Cecil Shepherd, Mrs. Lolie Lester and Mrs. Mazie Enel and of Hensley , Mrs. Lillie Newcomb of Asco; and six grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Freewill Baptist Church in Davy, with Rev. Amos Belcher, Rev. Walter Green and Rev. Jack Hamilton officiating. Burial followed in the Justice Cemetery in Asco.
Contributor: Mandy F (49260255) "
11. Facebook Message Post; Kathy Williams.
"I have been working on my family tree for at least 20 years. I sent you a friend request. My parents
were Roy Shirley and Glenna Lester. My mothers parents were Williams Eli Lester and Rebecca
Jane Shepherd. Rebecca Shepherds parents were Leonard Shepherd and Judy Cameron, Judy's
parents were Andrew Cameron and Nancy P Rose.I can invite you to my Ancestry site."
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1934); Page 356; WV Archives Web Site.
Eli Lester; age 36; born in McDowell Co, WV; living at Hensley, WV; son of Dave and Barb Lester;
married on 24 Aug 1934 in Hanover, WV; Jane Shepherd; age 22; born in Wyoming Co, WV; living
in Hensley, WV; daughter of Leonard and Juda Shepherd.
2. 1940 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek District; E.D. 55-8; taken 26 Apr 1940; Page 182B;
Image 35 of 43; Household #275.
Listed as Janie Lester; age 26; born in WV; married; 2nd grade education; lived in same house on
1 Apr 1935; in household of husband, William Eli Lester.
3. Facebook Message Post; Kathy Williams.
"I have been working on my family tree for at least 20 years. I sent you a friend request. My parents
were Roy Shirley and Glenna Lester. My mothers parents were Williams Eli Lester and Rebecca
Jane Shepherd. Rebecca Shepherds parents were Leonard Shepherd and Judy Cameron, Judy's
parents were Andrew Cameron and Nancy P Rose.I can invite you to my Ancestry site."
1. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Mandy F.; 6 May 2019.
" Ozie Lester
Birth 1948
West Virginia, USA
Death 20 Dec 1969 (aged 20–21)
Quincy, Logan County, Ohio, USA
Burial
Justice Cemetery
Asco, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA "Additional Information Posted:
"Son of; William "Eli" Lester and Rebecca Jane (Shepherd) Lester"(Pronunciation; "Oh-Zee" )
"Sunday Edition: Lima News Article Highlighting Local Deaths
21 Dec 1969"Lima, Ohio
"Ozie Lester was killed at 7:29 pm Saturday in Quincy when his car was struck by a Penn Central freight train at Morgan Tower on Carlisle Street. Lester was dead on arrival at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine. Arrangements are incomplete at Reeder Funeral Home in Quincy."
1. 1950 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Bradshaw; taken 6 Apr 1950; Sheet Number 6; Dwelling #49.
Listed as Randall J. Osborne; age 2; born in WV; in household of father, Woodrow Osborne
2. Tazewell Co, VA; Marriage License #74-009965; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Randal Jackson Osborne; age 36; born 5 May 1947 in WV; single; this is his 1st marriage; 3 yrs
college education; living at Box 184, Bradshaw, WV; son of Woodrow and Mary Leona (Cole)
Osborne; married on 10 Mar 1974 in Grundy, VA; Karen Paige Blankenship; age 18; born 2 May
1955 in WV; single; this is her 1st marriage; 4 yrs HS education; living at Box 625, War, WV; daughter
of John Morgan and Ida Mae (Asbury) Blankenship.
1. Tazewell Co, VA; Marriage License #74-009965; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Randal Jackson Osborne; age 36; born 5 May 1947 in WV; single; this is his 1st marriage; 3 yrs
college education; living at Box 184, Bradshaw, WV; son of Woodrow and Mary Leona (Cole)
Osborne; married on 10 Mar 1974 in Grundy, VA; Karen Paige Blankenship; age 18; born 2 May
1955 in WV; single; this is her 1st marriage; 4 yrs HS education; living at Box 625, War, WV; daughter
of John Morgan and Ida Mae (Asbury) Blankenship.
1. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Max Shafer; 26 Jan 2016.
" Charles W Branhan, Jr
Birth 18 Jul 1928
Death 17 Sep 1985 (aged 57)
Burial
San Jacinto Memorial Park
Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA
Plot BLUE LAGOON"
1. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; War; E.D. 24-12; taken on 16 Apr 1940;
Page 222A; Image 3 of 34; Household #24.
Listed as Eula Blankenship; age 12; born in WV; 6th grade education; attending school; lived in
same place on 1 Apr 1940; in household of father, John M. Blankenship.
2. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Eula Faye Blankenship
[Eula Faye Branhan]
[Eula Blankenship Branhan]
[Eula Brankan]
[Eula Branhan]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 21 Jul 1927
Birth Place: Excelsior Mc, West Virginia
[Excelsior, West Virginia]
Death Date: 5 May 1997
Father: John M Blankenship
Mother: Cora L Sayers
SSN: 455402400
Notes: May 1945: Name listed as EULA FAYE BLANKENSHIP;
Nov 1948: Name listed as EULA FAYE BRANHAN;
13 Mar 1997: Name listed as EULA FAYE BLANKENSHIP BRANHAN; :
Name listed as EULA FAYE BRANKAN;
14 May 1997: Name listed as EULA F BRANHAN"
3. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Max Shafer; 26 Jan 2016.
" Eula F Branhan
Birth 21 Jul 1927
Death 1997 (aged 69–70)
Burial
San Jacinto Memorial Park
Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA
Plot BLUE LAGOON"
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1963); Page 119; WV Archives Web Site.
James Martin Alfrey; age 18; born and living at Oceana, WV; single; son of Virgil and Marie
(sic, Narie) Alfrey; married on 29 May 1963 at Clearfork, WV; Judy Carolyn Gillenwater; age 17;
born and living at Kopperston, WV; single; daughter of Elba and Beulah Gillenwater.
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1963); Page 119; WV Archives Web Site.
James Martin Alfrey; age 18; born and living at Oceana, WV; single; son of Virgil and Marie
(sic, Narie) Alfrey; married on 29 May 1963 at Clearfork, WV; Judy Carolyn Gillenwater; age 17;
born and living at Kopperston, WV; single; daughter of Elba and Beulah Gillenwater.
1. Greenbrier Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1941); Page 9; WV Archives Web Site.
Elba Gillenwater; age 30; born 18 Nov 1911 at Rector, Lincoln Co, WV; no previous marriage;
living at Kopperston, WV; son of General Floyd and Linnie Gillenwater; married on 19 Nov 1941
at Lewisburg, WV; Beulah Virginia Napier; age 17; born 14 May 1924 at Lewisburg, WV; no
previous marriage; living at Lewisburg, WV; daughter of William Andrew and Mary Thelma
Napier.
1. Greenbrier Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1941); Page 9; WV Archives Web Site.
Elba Gillenwater; age 30; born 18 Nov 1911 at Rector, Lincoln Co, WV; no previous marriage;
living at Kopperston, WV; son of General Floyd and Linnie Gillenwater; married on 19 Nov 1941
at Lewisburg, WV; Beulah Virginia Napier; age 17; born 14 May 1924 at Lewisburg, WV; no
previous marriage; living at Lewisburg, WV; daughter of William Andrew and Mary Thelma
Napier.