Elva S. Coleman (1895 - 1995)

Born 22 Nov 1895 in Smoot, Lincoln, Wyoming, United States

Wife of Charles Ace Passey — married 31 Jul 1920 in Magrath, Cardston, Alberta, Canada

Descendants

Died 5 Jul 1995 at age 99 in Rexburg, Madison, Idaho, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jacqueline Perry [send private message]

Biography

Elva was born in 1895. She passed away in 1995.

• Fact: Immigration (1903)
• Fact: Residence (1906) Alberta, Canada
• Fact: Residence (1926) Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
• Fact: Obituary (1995) Bingham, Idaho, United States
• Fact: Burial (10 July 1995) Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho, United States
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Description of Elva Coleman. She was medium height, with light brown hair with gorgous blue eyes with yellow accents. She had straight white teeth and a warm, happy smile. She was a friend to all and helped many. She was a character, enjoying a joke, story or a good visit. She had style and class. She was the best Grandma in the world.

Life Sketch of Elva Coleman Shelton Passey. Written by her granddaughters, Barbara Gail Passey, and Elva Renae Passey. This was given at her funeral. Died 07/05/1995 She was ninety nine and a half.

Elva Coleman Shelton Passey

Grandma Elva was born in the family's one room house on November 22, 1895. (99) years ago in Smoot, Wyoming. As a new baby she had lots of black hair. Her mother, Nancy braided the top and tied it with a red ribbon. She had beautiful blue eyes and received many compliments on them throughout her life. At nine months she walked.

She was suppose to be given the name of Elvira. Her mother got nervious in front of the congregation and forgot the name. All she could remember was ELVA.

Her parents were George Moroni and Nancy McIntier Coleman. The family was blessed with five sons and three daughters. The family was always very close. Even when they got older and seen each other. They greeted each one with a kiss and hug. One sister-in-law once said. "They're the kissinest family she ever saw."

The family left Wyoming in 190 to homestead Magrath, Alberta, Canada. They traveled by covered wagon. The weather in Canada was cold. Sometimes getting down to 65 below zero. The family lived in a small house with an attic. It was heated by a old coal stove. Water was carried in and heated. The windows would frost up. To see out the kids had to blow in a litle spot to make a circle.

Grandma ofter said she thought the world of her mother. (Nancy) She said she could do anything and wasn't afriad of anything. She was spoiled by her dad. (George). Anything she asked for, he usually got it for her.

She was baptized in the "OLD POT HOLE" It was a creek running through Magrath. In the winter months ice was chopped and removed before a bapitzism.

They were having a kids dance at the town's community center one night. For some unknown reason it caught on fire. All the children was lined up and was being marched out the doors. As she was walking out she reached up and grabbed her coat. Next day at school she was the only kid in the whole town that had a coat.

When grandma was thirteen and her sister, (Bertha) two. A bunch of kids were playing on some piled up logs. They were going to be used to build bridges. One of the logs tumbled off the pile and rolled over Bertha, stopping on her neck. Elva ran over, picked up the huge log and pulled her sister from beneath it. The owner of the logs, said there was no way that girl could have lefted that. He was a big man and he couldn't lift it. She alwyas said. "I truly lifted it." She was known around Magrath for years. For saving he sisters life.

At sixteen, one of the most terrifing experiences happened to her. She was helping a lady. (Effie Sabby). Who had just delivered her fourth baby. Grandma did the cooking, cleaning and watched the other smaller children. She had went into the redbroom to assist her. Effie got out of bed to changed the baby and fell to the floor. Grandma picked her up and she died in her arms. They fingured a blood cot. That memory stayed with her all her life.

At a town dance. Grandma met Sterling Shelton. They dated for about a year and on December 18, 1913 got married. She was eighteen and he was twenty-five. They lived on the Shelton ranch near Magrath. There farmed four sections of land.

Nine months later a son, Sterling Dale was born weighing 9 lbs. Three years later, another son, Earl George was born weighing 8 lbs. While Earl was just a baby in 1919 the old influenza hit Magrath. Over half of the town died from the epidemic. Sterling caught the dreaded flu and within three days he had died. Elva was twenty four.

Sources

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 28 January 2022, 00:36), entry for Elva S. Coleman (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KWZQ-HBM ); contributed by various users.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #41014758 Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41014758/charles-ace-passey : accessed 29 March 2022), memorial page for Charles Ace “Cap” Passey (6 Jun 1887–13 Jul 1967), Find a Grave Memorial ID 41014758, citing Little Butte Cemetery, Annis, Jefferson County, Idaho, USA ; Maintained by Cathlene Willis (contributor 47131173) .