My great-grandmother Katie Belle McCoy Bunch Blake lost her first husband and two sons on the tracks on a Christmas eve in 1914. She was travelling from Hooker Station GA to a family reunion in TN. Her husband and her two smallest boys died that day on Christmas Eve and one lingered a week until he died into the year 1915 Jan.
This left Katie McCoy Bunch unmarried with three children: James Odus Bunch. Margaret Mae Bunch and Eugenia Bunch. James Odus was my Grandfather. He moved to San Diego CA and this is where my story starts.
Katie McCoy, found love again after that fateful night on the tracks losing two young boys, and her husband to the train and the tracks. She married a man listed as BLAKE. She gave birth to Mack McCoy Blake on 2.16.1921 and died the same day. She lived most of her life in Chattanooga.
I’ve just found that her grave is an unmarked grave on findagrave.com. Our family and my mother Norma have searched high and low for the little boy, born on that day. The older siblings were Bunchs and moved to CA. I guess Blake was raised with his father last name Blake.
My Family always said that this child insisted on “going by” Mack McCoy. He was in trouble when he was young. That is all we know. Mack McCoy Blake. If you are still alive, or your children are please contact your family. We’ve been looking for you for just about all our lives….
Thank you, I need to get someone’s attention maybe this story will ring a bell somehow with someone. I just found out today her grave is unmarked & my mother and I will do something to get her a gravestone. It was shocking to find her grave unmarked to say the least. Her life mattered. I’m here because of her….her story is one of very challenging circumstances, and heartache. And it haunts me.
Yours Truly,
Kathleen
You can contact me at 304.707.2757 or at kataheim@comcast.net any time.