Never Give up Hope

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

I have been looking for more information on Leverta Eley Etheredge (Shepherd??) Bates for years, well over 20 years.  When I first started blogging I shared a photo I have of a mystery lady, whom I believed was Leverta, and in fact, I still do. You can read what facts I knew in 2009 by looking at that post.  I know some more since then, but, not a lot.  I have discovered information and data about her second, or third husband, Harold Bates.

I have been attempting to fill in her life story, and find her final resting place.  I have had some wonderful assistance along the way from a few genie angels.  AM and Susan.  And, probably others.  As I always ask, just where would my research be without the kindness of others??  Answer - - NOT where it is today - - I guarantee you that.

NOW, this morning on a Facebook page for Reclaim the Records, there was an announcement concerning death indexes for the State of New York. They mentioned they were not sure that deaths occurring in institutions were indexed, and if you found one, please let them know.  I decided to give it a whirl and see if there was any chance I could find Leverta.  I started in 1941 (taking a chance that she survived 1940) as I knew she was still alive in the 1940 census, per this index transcription:

Leverta Bates

 in the 1940 United States Federal Census

Name: Leverta Bates

Age: 62

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1878

Gender: Female

Race: White

Birthplace: Virginia

Marital Status: Married

Relation to Head of House: Inmate

Home in 1940: Middletown, Orange, New York

Map of Home in 1940: View Map

Inferred Residence in 1935: Middletown, Orange, New York

Residence in 1935: Same Place

Sheet Number: 33B

Institution: Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital

Attended School or College: No

Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year

Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 03

1941 - - nadda

1942 - - nadda

1943 (the year that Reclaim the Records acknowledged was the worst, almost impossible to read - - yea!!)   BINGO!!  

Here is a screen capture, what I can read:  Bates, Leverta, Died Middletown, age 64 years.  Appears death occurred in May, the 8th, the 18th or the 28th.  The certificate number, well, mmmmm, 24881, maybe???

I took this screen capture to Photoshop, but, the improvement is minimal.

I even screen captured just the last 3 columns in a larger format from the web site:

And, again, the digital enhancements, minimal improvement.

Now, despite the disappointment that the index is the least legible of the set, I am thrilled. I know what year and probably what month she passed.  And, I know that she was still at the institution.

The index for this specific entry is here.

There is this blog, which is now inactive that tried to work on burials for institutions in the state of New York.  After a number of years and what appears to be much frustration the writer has moved on.

I'll keep working on this, of course, as her story is still not fully told.

And, I still think that photo, it's her, a wedding photo, if you will.

* And, seriously, how LUCKY was I that Leverta's entry was one that someone enhanced with a marker??  I mean, if you were a betting person - -

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