Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Helen Georgina Coates
Ancestors of Helen Georgina Coates
1.Helen Georgina Coates, born September 4, 1933 in Southwould Township, Elgin County, Ontairo, Canada.She was the daughter of 2. Rev. William Arthur Coates IV and 3. Elva Aleta Ecker.She married (1) Willard Dale "Bill" Purnell August 24, 1957 in St. Johns FM Church, Portland, Multimona County,Oregon.He was born December 27, 1931 in Swedish Hospital, Seattle, King County,WA, USA.He was the son of Harry Francis "Dick" Purnell and Dagmar Eleanor Olson.
More About Helen Georgina Coates:
Fact 1: August 24, 1957, Married, First home apartment near University of Washington
Fact 2: December 1958, First house in Edmonds, Wa., USA
Fact 3: 1963, Moved to Carnation, Wa. USA
Fact 4: 1972, Excutive Secretary, Vice President, Secartary- Treasure of W. D. Purnell & Assoc
Fact 5: 1974, Moved to rental house on Lake Whatcom,
Fact 6: 1976, Moved to Chuckanut home
Medical Information: Cancer of Thyroid, Surgically removed @ age 43.
Occupation: Excutive Secretary, Real Estate Sales Person, Vice President W. D. Purnell & Assoc.
Notes for Willard Dale "Bill" Purnell:
More About Willard Dale "Bill" Purnell:
Baptism: Abt. 1939, Methodist Church, Chimacum, Jefferson County, Washington
Degree: June 1961, Geology & Foundation Engineering, University of Washington
Fact 1: January 1932, First home at Port Stanley, Lopez Island, San Juan County, Washington
Fact 2: March 1933, Moved on Miller Place, Chimacum, WA
Fact 3: February 1940, Moved to Eldridge Place, 2nd grade
Fact 4: June 1944, Moved in with Grandpa Olson, Seattle, end 7th grade
Fact 5: June 1949, Toured USA moved to North City, then to 8808 9th NW Seattle
Fact 6: June 1950, Moved to 13333 Roosevelt Way Seattle
Fact 7: February 9, 1952, Called to Active Duty, US Navy
Fact 8: December 11, 1953, Discharged US Navy, Bremerton, Washington
Fact 9: June 1956, Graduated Everett Communtiy College
Fact 10: August 24, 1957, Married Helen G. Coates, Portland, Oregon
Fact 11: January 1959, Job with Dames and Moore
Fact 13: June 1959, Finished University of Washington, Geology and Foundation Engineering
Fact 14: 1962, Elec. School Board, Riverview Dist. 407
Fact 15: June 1969, Job with Sanwick Corp.
Fact 16: August 1972, Set up W.D. Purnell & Associates
Fact 17: November 1972, Vice President, Sunmark Development Corp.
Fact 18: December 1973, General Partner, The Glen Development Co.
Fact 19: December 1979, Finished The Glen @ Maple Falls
Fact 20: January 1979, Full time consulting with Purnell & Assoc.
Fact 21: August 1988, Formed Purnell & Assoc. as Egr. Corp.
Fact 22: Bet. 1996 - 1998, Elected Republican Precinct Committeeman
Fact 23: Bet. 1998 - 2000, Elected Republican Precinct Committeeman
Fact 24: Bet. 2000 - 2002, Elected Republican Precinct Committeeman
Fact 25: October 1, 1997, Sold Company to Jon Einarsen,Geol., Tom Bennett, Civil Engr, Ron Kensok, Accountant
Fact 26: February 24, 2000, Went around the world in 42 days
Fact 27: Bet. 2002 - 2004, Elected Republican Precenct Committman
Graduation: June 1951, Lincoln High School, Seattle, King County Washington
Medical Information: Possible Infantileparlaysis @ 7 yrs, broken joint rt. ring finger, Asmatic @ age 40 continuing, blood pressure high normal, Mild Heart attack, Angioplasty, 2-17-98,
Military service: Bet. December 1949 - 1953, U. S. Naval Reserve, Korean Conflict
Occupation: Engineering Geologist
Marriage Notes for Helen Coates and Willard Purnell:
Courtship
Bill was on active duty during 1952 in the U. S. Naval Reserves stationed at the U. S. Naval Hospital, as a Hospital corpsman in Bremerton WA.He was an avid roller skater during his free time.He went skating at a skating rink near the University of Washington at the University Shopping Mall.He met Wanda Croy and Eleanor Durkey (Schellbach) at the rink and dated Wanda Croy.She wanted to take Eleanor on a double date with us to a basket ball game at Seattle Pacific Collage where Wanda and Eleanor were attending college.Bill asked his friend Earnest Schellbach to go on a blind date with Eleanor.Eleanor and Earnie started to date regular and eventually married.
Bill's dating with Wanda was an on and off affair.One night Earnie and Eleanor took Bill to Eleanor's home where she, Wanda, Ann Mcharg (Moen) and a lovely girl they introduced Bill To, Helen Coates who was to become Hellen Coates Purnell.Bill called and began dating Helen.Bill considered this a very serious matter but had the impression Helen was taking it lightly.Bill and Helen dated from December 1953 to the fall spring of 1955.Bill started College at Everett Junior College now Everett Community College, (1998), in the fall of 1954.Helen in the meantime moved to her folks in Portland where she got a very good job paid partially with stock of the corporation which went up in price.She sold the stocks and bought a very Classic 1955 Buick Century automobile.Bill lost out to the the car and much to his fears Helen gave him up.Bill did have a secret admirer in Helen's Mother even though she claims she didn't push Helen.Helen had his picture in her dresser and every once in awhile, I am told, the picture would be taken out of storage and put on the top of the dresser.
One warm spring Saturday in 1957, Bill was selling used cars at ABC Auto Brokers in Lake City a suburban area of Seattle when who should show up but Helen in her Classic Buick two door hardtop.The upshot was they got together and even became engaged to be married in August of 1957.
Marriage
Helen's Father was a Free Methodist Minister.He encouraged the congregation in St. Johns, a part of North West Portland, Oregon, to build a new church.He worked hard in raising the funds with the congregation to build the new church and then much harder in actively building the church.
I remember walking into the church under construction one Saturday to ask Rev. William A. Coates IV for the hand of his youngest daughter to be my wife.He had on his carpenter clothes and was working on the interior of the Church and he gave his blessing to our marriage even though I was still attending the University of Washington.
I believe Rev. Coates was even more delighted to hold the first service, our wedding, in the new church the following August for his daughter.The congregation really turned out and made it a really special occasion for Helen and I.It was the first wedding in years in their church and it was fitting for the first service to be a wedding.
The wedding was a gala affair with a reception in the new reception hall in the basement of the church.Later when Helen and I left, we met with a group of our friends and Dave, my brother at the Benson Hotel for an impromptu party until after midnight.
Our honeymoon was spent on a trip to San Francisco, California.We went sightseeing and listened to the San Francisco Symphony orchestra.We stopped at the Italian Swiss Colony winery on the coast route through the redwoods and up the Oregon Coast home to our new apartment located adjacent to the University of Washington.
More About Willard Purnell and Helen Coates:
Engagement: June 1957, Seattle WA
Marriage: August 24, 1957, St. Johns FM Church, Portland, Multimona County,Oregon
Marriage Fact: August 24, 1957, First Wedding @ new St. John's Free Methocist Church