SERENDIPITY: On the cover of the Jan-Feb 1996 issue of "The Genealogical Helper" magazine is an absolutely endearing photo of a father, Harold Lee Derry, born 02 April 1877, Toledo, Iowa, tenderly holding his baby daughter - his face revealing great love and pride.

Harold Derry married Nannie A. Barbee in Girard, Kansas on 24 Jan 1901. Nannie was born in Ashgrove, Missouri, 14 Aug 1874. Her mother, Elvina "Hicks" Barbee, was from the Cherokee Nation.

Harold and Nannie's daughter, Annis Louise Derry, was born in Ashgrove, Missouri. After Annis was born, the family resided in Marland, Oklahoma (previously Bliss, OK)). This picture of father and infant daughter was taken in early 1909 in Marland. Little Annis lived to be only nine years old. She came home ill one day from school. The doctor operated on her on the family's kitchen table for appendicitis, but she did not recover and died 27 Nov. 1918. It must have broken her parents' hearts!

Mr. Derry became very successful in the hardware business in Marland and died there 31 Jan 1951. His wife, Nannie, lived to be 93 years; she died in Roseville, California, 26 March 1968. The family is buried in Ponca City, OK.

Hopefully this poignant story will provide just the right clue to a researcher.

Everton's "Genealogical Helper" magazine" is a marvelous resource to bring together Internet and nonInternet researchers.