My three siblings and I recently decided to each do a genealogical DNA test at the same time to see just how related we are. Everyone gets 50% of their genes from each parent, but each child gets a different mix of that 50/50 split. So if we all had a Dutch ancestor 250 years ago, we might not all have inherited her genes and for some of us, that Dutch ancestry wouldn’t show up in our DNA. It was interesting how it all turned out. My brother and I share 48-52% of our genes. My youngest sister and I share 52-58%. And speaking of that Dutch ancestor, I’m the only one of the 4 of us who showed any Dutch DNA (2%).
In the process of following my family tree, I found among the myriad family stories that a distant cousin had posted the obituary of my great-grandmother (my father’s grandmother), Alafair Morgan, who is the inspiration for the Alafair Tucker character in my ten book mystery series. I didn’t personally know Alafair, since she died nearly 7 years before I was born, but I was very close to her daughter, my grandmother, and between her and my father I heard many tales of Alafair throughout my childhood. Everyone I every spoke to about Alafair seemed to love her intensely. She was a perfect model for a mystery-solving farm wife! Below is her obituary that appeared in the Boynton, Oklahoma, newspaper (The Index) in April 1941. If you’ve read the Alafair Tucker Mysteries, you’ll recognize several of her children’s names. (p.s. until I saw this, I didn’t know her first name was Mary) (p.p.s. the paper misspelled her name. It really was Alafair)
Mary Alafair Wilson Morgan
Mary Alafare Wilson was born February 17, 1871, at Hyden, Leslie county, Ky., and was united in marriage to George W. Morgan July 12, 1888, and passed away at the family home northwest of this city at 12:25 a. m. April 14, 1941. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan came to Oklahoma in 1911 with their children located on the farm 5 miles northwest of town where she resided until her death. Mrs. Morgan united with the Christian church in 1932 and lived a faithful, consistent Christian life. She was a devoted wife and mother, a kindly neighbor, ever willing to extend a helping hand in the hour of need, and all who knew her loved and respected her. Mrs. Morgan was the mother of 10 children, of whom two preceded her in death. Besides the husband she is survived by one son, Charles Morgan, of this vicinity; seven daughters, Mrs. Martha Mosley of Rose, Okla.; Mrs. Mary Kreichell, Mrs. Laura Ross and Mrs. Chesna Casey of this city; Mrs. Phronia Cassleman of Morris; Mrs. Blanche Gayer of Muskogee and Miss Grace Morgan of the home; three sisters and five brothers, all of Kentucky; 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The funeral services were held at the Christian church in this city Wednesday afternoon, April 16, conducted by Rev. Robert Nelson of Weleetka. Interment was in Memorial Park, Muskogee, under direction of the Dowdy funeral home of Haskell. The bereaved husband and children have the sympathy of the entire community in their loss.
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