Geffray Family

John Geffray and Virginia Gauthier had seven children:

This was the first generation of Geffrays.

Joseph Jean Baptiste Möise Leon Robert (Leon) Geffray

Leon was the first child of John and Virginia Geffray, born 19 February 1902, Montreal, Québec. In the 1910 census, the family lived in the Metropolitan precinct, Rohnerville Township, California, and were listed with the last name Jeffray.

John Jeffray’s occupation is listed as Woodsman, Lumber Camp.

Leon Robert, known as Bob, married Miaal Vella (Val) Peterson on 30 March 1924. Val was born 28 February 1907, Jefferson, Wisconsin. Leon was killed in the woods on 31 March 1941, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Val remarried on 20 May 1949 to Harry Augustus Deaver (1914-1996). They farmed in the area of Viola, Wisconsin. Harry had a son, Donald R., and daughter, Annette Marie, by his previous marriage to Zelma Sidie. Harry worked for Mathy Construction until 1954; they moved to Mesa, Arizona, and returned to Bigfork, Montana, in 1976. Val died 14 July 1989, Kalispell, Montana.

Children of Leon and Val:

Letter from Lyle Geffray

In a letter from Butler, Missouri, on 8 December 1997, to Frederick James Sharp,

Lyle Robert Geffray wrote that he was 73 years old and retired. He and Lois had seven children, sixteen grandchildren, and three great granddaughters. He wrote that he traveled with his parents from Wisconsin to California in 1928, lived in Scotia on the way, stopped in San Francisco to see Uncle Frank Davis, then to San Rafael to see Uncle Merle. At the time, he would have been about four years old. His father, Leon, worked in the lumber mill for a while, then in Bertain’s laundry in Eureka, then back to Wisconsin, where he bought half interest in a farm, but lost it in the depression after getting mixed up (Lyle thought) with bootleggers trying to save the farm. Leon died in 1941 and is buried in the Asbury Methodist Church cemetery, seven miles northwest of Viroqua, Wisconson. Lyle joined the navy in 1941 and was in the armed guard stationed at Treasure Island, San Francisco. After that, he worked on a commercial merchant ship that took lumber from Coos Bay to Pearl Harbor. Lois didn’t tolerate the winters in Wisconsin, so they moved first to Missouri, then to New Mexico, then back to west central Missouri where they bought seven acres.

Claire (Clara) Geffray

Claire Mary, also known as Clara, was born in Eureka on 19 October 1904. About 1916, she was adopted by the Stuart family, or, according to the 1920 census, Kennedy. She married Lois Audel McIntosh (1905-1953); their children:

Claire died 6 March 1996, Shasta, California.

Alfred Geffray (Frederick Thomas Pavey)

Alfred, born 17 March 1906, Eureka, California. Around 1916, he was adopted by Albert and Virginia Pavey about 1916. Alfred married Viola Rouse. Alfred and Viola lived on McFarlan Street, Eureka, in 1920. Step-father Albert Pavey died 26 April 1948, Port Angeles, Washington. Alfred died 23 November 1957, Butte County, California. Viola married Ralph M. Berry (1902-1976).

The law office of Morrison, Morrison, and Cooper researched the family to find heirs of John Geffray’s brother Frank Geffray (1871-1949). Merle A. Jeffrey wrote to them on 6 June 1950 from San Rafael.

Frank L. Geffray (Davis)

Frank, born 5 February 1907, Point Richmond, California; legally adopted by Davis (changed his last name to Davis); lived at 45 Ulloa Street, San Francisco, California; died in 1958.

Merle Amile Geffray (Jeffrey)

Merle Amile (Marille) Geffray was born 6 February 1909, Metropolitan, California. He married Pauline (Minnie) Howland before 16 October 1940, when he registered for the draft. Pauline, a daughter of John Cobb Howland and Jessie Swarts, was born 16 September 1912, Warner, Oklahoma, and died 28 August 1943, San Rafael, California.

On his draft registration, he named Pauline, his height (5'8"), his weight (135), his complexion (dark), his hair color (black), and gave his name as Merle Amile Jeffrey.

Merle and Pauline had a daughter, Muriel Louise, born 6 December 1935, Fortuna, California. Muriel married William Marius Hansen (1928-2001) on 11 June 1954, and William W. Wilburn (1934-2005) on 29 August 1987. At some point Muriel lived in Seattle, Washington.

Merle lived in California and worked as an interior decorator and painter. He died 15 September 1990, Ukiah, California.

Elizabeth (Elisabet) Ruth Geffray

Elizabeth Ruth, born 15 November 1911, Shively, Humboldt, California; adopted by William Porter Blackburn (1874-1968) and Bessie Christine Lawrence (1880-1959); married Ronald Ian MacLearn (1909-1983) on 24 January 1930, San Meteo, California; died 2 October 1960, San Francisco, California.

Bessie Christine Blackburn wrote to Mrs. E. J. Morrison from Fields Landing, California.

Rose Ugenia Lee Geffray

Rose Ugenia Lee, born 12 March 1913, Shively, California. In Rose married Frederick Lee Sharp (1905-1990) on 27 November 1927, giving her last name as Jeffries, of Ruth, Trinity County, California. They had two children, Frederick James and Virginia Ellen. Vic Bertain, living in Rio Del, California, was the godfather of the two children.

In June 1929, Fred and Rose moved to Scotia, California. Fred was a carpenter and built homes for the lumber company in Scotia.

Rose lived in Eureka, across the street from her mother, Virginia, on Togo Street. After that, Rose moved to 1833 Derby Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon. There she was listed in the phone book as Rose U. Miller, having married George Miller, who was in the military. This was possibly Bertram George Miller, born 17 April 1875; if so, he would have been 38 years older than her.

Stationed in Alaska with Miller, Rose applied for a social security number on 3 September 1941.

On that application, she gave her name as Rose Geffries Miller, her father as John Geffries, and her mother as Virginia Gauthier. She stated that she was unemployed but that her last occupation was as a waitress at a restaurant.

Rose left Miller, and married Herman Charles Bunch (1901-1974) in 1947 in Philadelphia. Herman Bunch, the son of Charles L. Bunch and Hattie B. Moody, was born 3 November 1901, Indian Ridge, Tennessee, and died 11 May 1974, New Market, Tennessee. Rose died in Buffalo, New York, on 12 December 1983, never having made contact, after 1947, with her children.