Alexander Norval Keay (1897 - 1954)

Born 3 Jun 1897 in Everett, Snohomish, Washington

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Peterson) Keay — married 8 Jul 1918 in Everett, Snohomish, Washington, United States

Husband of Helen Catherine (Fry) Scova — married 3 Jul 1919 (to before 1927) in King County Courthouse, Seattle, King, Washington

Husband of Martha Alice (Robinson) Keay — married 2 Oct 1928 in Mount Vernon, Skagit, Washington, United States

Husband of Vera (Stans) Keay — married 31 Mar 1942 in Thurston, Washington, United States

Descendants

Died 10 Apr 1954 at age 56 in Olympia, Thurston, Washington

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Biography

Alexander Norval Keay, the son of Alexander Keay and Amy McGhie, was born on 4 June 1897 at Everett, Snohomish, Washington.^[1]

In 1900, Norval, 3 b. Washington, was living with his parents, Amy Keay, 34 b. English Canada, and Alex Keay, a purser, 38 b. Scotland, in Seattle, King, Washington. Sister-in-law Jennie McGhie, 28 b. English Canada, is living with them.^[2]

In 1910, Norval, 12, was living with his parents, Alexander Keay, 48 b. Scotland, and Amy, 43 born Canada, and brother William, 4, in Everett, Snohomish, Washington. Alexander owned the house they lived in at 3201 Norton Ave. Alexander says he came to the US in 1887 and has been naturalized. He is the City Treasurer for Everett. Brother-in-law Samuel McGhie, 32 b. Canada, and sister-in-law Jennie McGhie, 25 b. Canada, are living with them.^[3]

In 1911, Alexander Keay Sr. disappeared and abandoned his wife and two sons. About $19,000 (worth $500,000 in 2015) was determined to be missing from the City of Everett's treasury. It was thought that he went to Australia, but despite that he was being sought by the Pinkerton Detective Agency he was never seen or heard from again. His disappearance and the discovery of his crime as reported by the Everett Herald can be found at this link: Keay Scandal of 1911.

When he registered for the World War 1 Draft, Alexander Norvel Keay said he was 21 years old, born 3 June 1897. He was born in Everett, Washington, and lived at 3201 Norton in Everett, Washington. His father was born in Scotland. His nearest relative was Amy Keay of the same address. Alexander was of medium height and build, with brown eyes and dark brown hair.^[4]

Alexander N. Keay and Helen K. "Frye" (Fry) were married at the King County Courthouse on 3 July 1919. The witnesses were Geo. and Grace Kirkpatrick.^[5] Helen and Norval had at least the following children:

• William West Keay, b. ca. 1934, d. 6 Nov 1935^[6]

Martha Alice Robinson and Alexander Norval Keay were married on 2 Oct 1928 in Skagit County, Washington. The witnesses were Henry T. Robinson and Mrs. Anne Wallace.^[7]

In 1930, Norval, 42, a wedge driver in longshoring, is living with his mother, Amy Keay, a 63 year old widow, in her house at 3201 Norton in Everett. Four grandchildren are living with them.^[8]

In 1940, Norval Keay, a 42 year old longshoreman, lived at 3201 Norton in Everett, Washington. He was divorced.^[9]

Vera Stans of Pierce County and Alexander Norval Keay of Thurston County were married on 31 Mar 1942 in Seattle, King, Washington. The witnesses were Mr. and Mrs. William M. Keay.^[10]

Alexander Norval Keay died of a heart attack on 10 Apr 1954 in Olympia, Thurston, Washington. He was 56 years old. He was the son of Alexander Keay and Amy McGhie.^[11] He is buried at the Masonic Memorial Park, Tumwater, Thurston, Washington.^[12]You can see a picture of his gravestone at FindAGrave.

Sources

1. ↑ Alex N. Keay Birth Record, Snohomish County Auditor, Birth Records, 1891-1907, Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/50F9CDB9F141C86C7774BB374278A61F , accessed 26 July 2015
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMPF-Y5Y : accessed 26 July 2015), Amy Keay in household of Alex Keay, Precinct 2 Seattle city Ward 2, King, Washington, United States; citing sheet 4A, family 76, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,744.

   Alex Keay, 38 b. Feb 1862; Amy, 34 b. Dec 1866; Norval Keay, 3 b. June 1897; Jennie McGhie, 28 b. Jan 1872. Amy and Alex have been married for three years, and Amy has had one child. Alex came to the US in 1884, and Amy came in 1893.

3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGVW-M5V : accessed 26 July 2015), Amy Keay in household of Alexander Keay, Everett Ward 2, Snohomish, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 278, sheet 11A, family 237, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,681.
4. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:29JS-GNG : accessed 26 July 2015), Alexander Norvel Keay, 1917-1918; citing Everett County, Washington, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,991,538.
5. ↑ Keay-Frye Marriage Certificate, King County Department of Executive Services, Records and Licensing Division, Marriage Returns, 1891-1947, Marriage Certificates, 1855-1990, Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/C7236AB78A8F7F8FE4C8CA15E9EB83F9, accessed 25 July 2015.
6. ↑ William West Keay Death Record; Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, Washington State Death Certificate Index 1907-1960; http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/A1B7429A74A1EF5CC82A75F943C283A5; accessed 26 July 2015
7. ↑ Keay-Robinson Marriage Certificate; Skagit County Auditor, Marriage Certificates, 1884-2000, Marriage Returns, 1891-1948, Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/800BFDDA80CA9822986DF7B1903294A6 , accessed 26 July 2015.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCQC-7V7 : accessed 26 July 2015), Amy Keay, Everett, Snohomish, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0026, sheet 5A, family 111, line 17, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2519; FHL microfilm 2,342,253.

   Amy Keay, 63; son Norval Keay, 32; granddaughter Katherine Keay, 10; granddaughter Alexandria Keay, 8; grandson Fredric Keay, 7; grandson William Keay, 5. All were born in Washington except Amy, who was born in Canada. She came to the US in 1893. Norval is married, but his wife is not in the house. The grandchildren's father was born in Washington, but their mother was born in Wisconsin.

9. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9S8-GWG : accessed 26 July 2015), Norval Keay, Everett, Everett Election Precinct 9, Snohomish, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-36, sheet 61A, family 17, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 4359.
10. ↑ "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLNW-845 : accessed 26 July 2015), Alexander Norval Keay and Vera Stans, 31 Mar 1942; State Archives, Olympia; FHL microfilm 4,140,539.
11. ↑ "Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3BX-YJZ : accessed 6 April 2015), Alexander Keay, 10 Apr 1954; citing Olympia, Thurston, Washington, reference 7637, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2,033,392.
12. ↑ www.FindAGrave.com; Created by: geniebug; Record added: Nov 24, 2008; Find A Grave Memorial# 31688483

Notes

• Norval Keay had a history of failing to support his children. In the early 1930's he was arrested for child support violations (bottom line on document.)
• Alexander Norval Keay was married four times. As noted in Sources, his fourth wife at the time of his death was "Vera Keay."