Vera J. Parks was one of three siblings and the only girl. She was 17 years old when she married Henry Joseph Basham in May, 1916. By June 1917 she had filed for divorce. According to Basham's WWI draft card, he was already in TX and listed himself as single. Her divorce was granted 28 Jul 1917 and she returned to her maiden name, Parks.
Once she left Coffeyville, KS, presumably with her family, she has been a bit of a mystery. Family researchers have found her in Centralia, Washington near family, as Mrs. Vera Overturf, wife of Earl. There is a 1923 marriage record in Oklahoma, which appears to be Earl and Vera Josephine. We did not find a record of a divorce or death of Overturf, at least at this time (2024).
When the Parks' left Kansas for Washington to run a hotel (1925) the Overturf family also came. There is a reference to Overturf in a letter sent to Vera's brother, Paul, once they were in Washington. There are a number of public references to Mrs. Vera Overturf.
My husband remembers visiting Vera with his parents in about 1946, after WWII, when he was about 12. He remembers a husband, "Chuck". This was Charles J. Hendricks.
Vera played piano and was a singer. She was good enough to be invited to sing at special Church events and sang at group events, such as Order of Eastern Star luncheons.
She was a nurse as were several others in the family in that era.
She died at age 50, "single", and of Diabetes and Acute Cardiac Failure. She had not been under medical care so an autopsy was conducted.
I am happy to share information and photos with those researching this family line and presume you would share with me as well! SCP
Vera J. Parks was one of three siblings and the only girl. She was 17 years old when she married Henry Joseph Basham in May, 1916. By June 1917 she had filed for divorce. According to Basham's WWI draft card, he was already in TX and listed himself as single. Her divorce was granted 28 Jul 1917 and she returned to her maiden name, Parks.
Once she left Coffeyville, KS, presumably with her family, she has been a bit of a mystery. Family researchers have found her in Centralia, Washington near family, as Mrs. Vera Overturf, wife of Earl. There is a 1923 marriage record in Oklahoma, which appears to be Earl and Vera Josephine. We did not find a record of a divorce or death of Overturf, at least at this time (2024).
When the Parks' left Kansas for Washington to run a hotel (1925) the Overturf family also came. There is a reference to Overturf in a letter sent to Vera's brother, Paul, once they were in Washington. There are a number of public references to Mrs. Vera Overturf.
My husband remembers visiting Vera with his parents in about 1946, after WWII, when he was about 12. He remembers a husband, "Chuck". This was Charles J. Hendricks.
Vera played piano and was a singer. She was good enough to be invited to sing at special Church events and sang at group events, such as Order of Eastern Star luncheons.
She was a nurse as were several others in the family in that era.
She died at age 50, "single", and of Diabetes and Acute Cardiac Failure. She had not been under medical care so an autopsy was conducted.
I am happy to share information and photos with those researching this family line and presume you would share with me as well! SCP
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