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Harvey
Joseph Ream Sr. |
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Harvey Ream, WWII |
Harvey Joseph Ream Sr. was born on June 20, 1905 in Lower Turkeyfoot Township near Confluence, Somerset County, PA. He was the seventh of 16 children born to Joseph and Sarah Ellen (Harbaugh) Ream.
Harvey married Grace Nevada Hall (1913-1941), daughter of William and Charlotte (Layfield) Hall. The couple resided in or near Confluence, but apparently did not reproduce.
Tragically, in early January 1941, Grace was stricken with bilateral lobar pneumonia which led to strep and staph infections. Her health declined and she died at home on Jan. 12, 1941, at the age of 27.
Jersey Baptist
Church Cemetery
Her funeral was held at
the Jersey Baptist Church near Confluence, with Rev. H.A. Moorehead officiating.
She was buried at the church cemetery. A short obituary was printed in the Connellsville
Daily Courier.
After his wife's passing, Harvey went on to serve in World War II as a private first class in the United States Army. After the war, he was a member of the American Legion.
Having been a widower for almost six years, Harvey married Clema Cleo Faye Sterner (1925-2009), the daughter of Jesse and Ora (Wills) Sterner. They were wed on Dec. 4, 1946, when he was age 41 and she 21. They were separated in age by two decades.
They went on to produce seven children -- Darlene Perryman, Norma Jean Colflesh Shroyer, Harvey Joseph Ream Jr., Betty Jean Digrottolo, Darl Keith Ream, Michael Ray Ream and William Dexter Ream.
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Harvey with his automobile, apparently after returning home from the Army |
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Jersey Church Cemetery |
The Reams dwelled in rural Confluence. Clema was a member of the Confluence Church of the Nazarene, while the children belonged to the Teen Age Class of the Ursina Church of God.
Clema outlived her husband by almost 24 years.
She passed away at the age of 83 on May 22, 2009, in Pittsburgh's UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital. At the time of her death, said the Somerset Daily American, she was survived by 22 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.
~ Daughter Darlene (Ream) Perryman ~
Daughter Darlene Ream married David Perryman.
In 2009, they dwelled in Central City.
~ Daughter Norma Jean (Ream) Colflesh Shroyer ~
Daughter Norma Jean Ream ( ? - ? ) was twice married.
Her first spouse was Paul Elwood Colflesh Jr. (Feb. 6, 1946-2005), son of Paul E. and Edith Pearle (Lytle) Colflesh Sr. of Ursina. Circa 1965, they made their home at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, where Paul was a sergeant in the U.S. Army.
They produced at least four children, Randall Paul "Randy" Colflesh, Teresa Durstine, Lori Colflesh and Richard Colflesh.
Their marriage appears to have dissolved in divorce by 1989. Paul had run-ins with the law over the years including charges of disorderly conduct in Mel's Bar and fleeing the scene of a vehicle accident.
She was wed a second time to William "Bill" Shroyer ( ? - ? ). They made their home in Confluence. Children or stepchildren in the second family were Jason Shroyer, Jared Shroyer, Justin Shroyer and Jordan Shroyer.
Grief shattered the family four days before Christmas 1989 when son Randall died at the age of 24 in Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital in Johnstown.
During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Norma was pictured in the Somerset Daily American when shipping a care package to her son Richard deployed overseas.
Sadly, Paul Jr. died in Friedens at the age of 59 on Sept. 30, 2005. His remains sleep for all time in the Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery.
Son Randall Paul Colflesh (1965-1989) was born on Feb. 18, 1965 in San Antonio, TX. Little of his life is known, other than that as of 1989 he resided in Confluence. He was swept away by the angel of death at the age of 24 on Dec. 21, 1989, as a patient in Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital in Johnstown. Burial was in the Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery, with Pastor Gregory Deans presiding. An obituary appeared in the Somerset Daily American.
Daughter Teresa Lynn Colflesh ( ? - ? ) is a 1984 graduate of Turkeyfoot Valley Area High School. She went on to study at the ICM School of Business in the area of specialized office systems. Theresa is believed to have wed Billy Boyd Durstine ( ? - ? ). She lived in Confluence in the late 1980s and Meyersdale in 2006-2007. One known son of the couple was Joshua Aaron Durstine.
- Grandson Joshua Aaron Durstine grew up in Confluence and is a 2006 graduate of Turkeyfoot Valley High School. He was employed as a teen with Jonico and then joined the U.S. Navy in October 2006.
Daughter Lori Colflesh dwelled in Norfolk, VA as of 1989.
Son Richard A. Colflesh ( ? - ? ) is a 1986 graduate of Turkeyfoot High School. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1988. As of August that year, he was stationed with the Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force 3-88, aboard the USS Dubuque, with a homeport assignment in Sasebo, Japan. In 1990-1991, he was deployed overseas during Operation Desert Storm. He eventually moved to Cherry Point, NC.
Son Jason Shroyer ( ? - ? )
Son Jared Shroyer ( ? - ? )
Son Justin Travis Shroyer (1986- ? ) was born in about 1986. He is a 2003 graduate of Turkeyfoot Valley Area High School. Circa 2009, he was employed by Tom Rugg Masonry. On July 18, 2009, he was joined in wedlock with Laura Pritts ( ? - ? ), daughter of Randy Pritts of Confluence. She is a 2005 Turkeyfoot High graduate and a 2009 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, majoring in early childhood/elementary education.
Son Jordan Shroyer ( ? - ? )
~ Son Harvey Joseph Ream Jr. ~
Son Harvey Joseph Ream Jr. ( ? - ? ) was married to Garnett ( ? - ? ).
In 2009, they made their residence in Acme, Westmoreland County, PA.
~ Daughter Betty Jean (Ream) Digrottolo ~
Daughter Betty Jean Ream ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). Circa January 1967, she was a contestant for Maple Princess of the Turkeyfoot Valley Area Schools.
Betty was united in wedlock with Daniel "Dan" Digrottolo ( ? - ? ).
They lived in Confluence in 2009.
~ Son Darl Keith Ream ~
Son Darl Keith Ream was wedded to Barbara ( ? - ? ) and lived in Confluence.
~ Son Michael Ray Ream ~
Son Michael Ray Ream ( ? - ? )
~ Son William Dexter Ream ~
Son William Dexter Ream married Susan (?) and made Confluence their home in 2009.
Copyright © 2001, 2009, 2013 Doris (Sands) Hawker and
Mark A. Miner. |
Harvey Ream images on this page courtesy Doris Hawker. |