Mary Nora Matthews McClaren
14 OCT 1875 – 1933
Margie and Maggie, being a few years older than Mary; would sometimes as youngsters, try to get away from Mary to do their own thing without her tagging along. Mary would tell her Aunt Nora that the girls would not let her play with them and since Mary was Nora’s “pet”; Nora would punish Margie. In those days it might be with a switch, or anything within reach.
The house that the McClarens lived in had an open center hall the length of the house with bedrooms on one side and the kitchen on the other.
One evening, Nora had prepared dinner for the family as usual, but this particular day had left a plate of food in the oven for her husband, knowing he would be getting home late from work.
She and the children ate their supper; then went to the bedrooms to prepare for bed. Suddenly, they became aware of a noise coming from the kitchen. As they listened, Nora realized it was not her husband.
She loaded the shotgun and had one of the boys accompany her. As they approached the kitchen, there stood a stranger, bending over the oven door, with her husband’s plate of food in his hand.
Needless to say, he put the plate down and hurriedly backed out the door and out of the house. Mary said she had no doubt whatsoever that had the man resisted, Nora would have shot him dead; and I believe her.
Family Story as told by Mary Coats, Nov. 1, 2008.
Mary Nora Matthews McClaren is the older sister of Virgie Matthews Perry.
Nora’s daughter Margie is a cousin of Mary Coats & Maggie Heuer.
The house that the McClarens lived in had an open center hall the length of the house with bedrooms on one side and the kitchen on the other.
One evening, Nora had prepared dinner for the family as usual, but this particular day had left a plate of food in the oven for her husband, knowing he would be getting home late from work.
She and the children ate their supper; then went to the bedrooms to prepare for bed. Suddenly, they became aware of a noise coming from the kitchen. As they listened, Nora realized it was not her husband.
She loaded the shotgun and had one of the boys accompany her. As they approached the kitchen, there stood a stranger, bending over the oven door, with her husband’s plate of food in his hand.
Needless to say, he put the plate down and hurriedly backed out the door and out of the house. Mary said she had no doubt whatsoever that had the man resisted, Nora would have shot him dead; and I believe her.
Family Story as told by Mary Coats, Nov. 1, 2008.
Mary Nora Matthews McClaren is the older sister of Virgie Matthews Perry.
Nora’s daughter Margie is a cousin of Mary Coats & Maggie Heuer.
