Life History

Notes

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  Ora May Graham Merryman
  Birth Mar. 23, 1886 Rudy, Crawford County, Arkansas
  Death Apr. 8, 1943 Steilacoom, Pierce County, Washington
  
  Ora May (Graham) Merryman, was born March 23, 1886 in Rudy, Crawford Co., Arkansas; and passed away in Fort Steilacoom, Pierce Co., Washington on April 8, 1943. Ora first married Abraham H. Merryman (Aug 10, 1902 in Sugar Loaf Co., Choctaw Nation/Okla.) then She evidently remarried another man, after divorcing Abe H. Merryman (Nov 17, 1932, Reno, NV.) as her spouse is listed as one Charles Lawrence (according to Washington State Death Certificate Index 1907-1960). Also, according to this record her parents names were John & Ormanda Grahm. (Although, family records and others, spell her parents names as John Wesley Graham & Arminda Jane Bell). She and Abe -about 3 years older than her- had nine Children together between the years of 1903 and 1924; all of these were born were boys, but for three girls. Of these children, all of them have passed away, except for one of the girls as of 2012.
  
  This person's name is on a plaque placed in the Cemetery (which is one of the pictures to the right) that has over 500 names listed on it. I have taken pictures of this plaque in sections so as to make the names visible. I then cropped sections with up to 5 names at time on them.
  
  The other names with this section are:
  
  J.D. McNeley
  Stewart K. McPherson
  Edward McReynolds
  Katherine Meinken
  
  These people were buried at the Western State Hospital Memorial Cemetery between 1939 and 1952.
  
  (Note: The following was a letter posted in the cemetery on their kiosk)
  
  To find out information about a deceased relative who had been a patient at Western State Hospital and you have an interest in obtaining old medical records:
  
  There are laws that must be followed in order concerning the release of the medical records.
  
  You will need to obtain and complete a consent form and have it signed by the oldest living relative.
  
  That person also has to have documentation proving they are related to the patient such as birth/death certificates, obituaries, etc.
  
  A death certificate may be needed to prove they are deceased, but if the relative died at Western State Hospital, that will not be needed that unless it helps prove relationship.
  
  Send the completed information to Lisa Evans at the address below and we will do a search.
  
  The records are on microfilm and will then be mailed to the requestor. This may take up to 3 or 4 weeks depending on how long it takes to find the records.
  
  Contact Lisa if you have any questions. Thanks.
  
  Lisa M. Evans, RHIT
  Western State Hospital
  Medical Record Dept.
  9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW
  Tacoma, WA 98498-7213
  Ph: 253 -761-7549
  Fx: 253-761-7579
  
  (Note: The following was on a monument at the front of the cemetery)
  Western State Hospital Historical Cemetery 1876 - 1953
  
  Over 3,200 psychiatric patients from Western State Hospital were buried here from 1876 to 1953. Since then, burial has been elsewhere. The graves are marked with numbers for privacy reasons and the stigma of mental illness. These people worked on the award winning hospital farm and in other hospital areas and called the hospital "home." They were mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, children and many were veterans.
  
  May they rest in peace, with dignity and respect.
  
  Burial Western State Hospital Memorial Cemetery, Steilacoom, Pierce County, Washington
  
  Created by Robbyn Sep 15, 2006
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #15754567, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15754567&ref=acom&ftm=1
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  Washington Death Index, 1940-1996
  Ora M Merryman [Ora May Grahm]
  Death 8 Apr 1943 Fort Steilacoom, Pierce, Washington
  Age 56, Estimated birth year 1887
  Father John Grahm
  Mother Ormanda Grahm [sic]
  Certificate 294

Sources

• 1. Washington Death Index, 1940-1996
• 2. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 3. U.S. Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914
• 4. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 5. Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008