Person Page - 1827

     Rachael Leverett was born on 8 September 1944 at Jeffersonville, Clark Co., IN. She was the daughter of D. W. Leverett and Clarice Opal Jackson. Rachael Leverett married (?) O'Neil. Rachael Leverett died on 9 August 2004 at Houston, Harris Co., TX, at age 59.

     William Leverett married Minnie (?).

     Jack Lee Leverich was born on 16 April 1924 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK. He was the son of Oscar Alberton Leverich and Vinnie V. Walley. Jack Lee Leverich married Elcena C. Jorgensen, daughter of Christian Peter Jorgensen and Effie Norma Shupe. Jack Lee Leverich married Ruby Josephine Short, daughter of John Short and Lillian Gertrude Coyle, on 15 July 1948 at Norman, Cleveland Co., OK. Jack Lee Leverich died on 9 January 2003 at Norman, Cleveland Co., OK, at age 78 Obituary (Findagrave.com):

Jack Lee Leverich, 78, of Norman, Oklahoma died Thursday, January 9, 2003 in Norman. Graveside Services will be held at 1100 a.m., Friday, January 11, 2003 at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with Reverend Bob Adams officiating. Services are under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman.

Mr. Leverich was born on April 16, 1924 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Oscar and Vinnie Leverich. He graduated from Capital Hill High School and later graduated from Bethany Nazarene College. He served in the Coast Guard and United States Marine Corp. He worked at the V. A. Hospital for seventeen years. He then served 23 years on the O. U. Police Department. Jack was an avid boy scout leader. He started the first troops for disabled and handicapped boys. He earned the Silver Beaver award, which is the highest award in scouting.

He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Joe Leverich and one sister, Margie Morris. He is survived by his wife, Ruby Josephine (Jo), of the home; two daughters, Virgina Bounds and husband, Richard, of Guthrie and Jacquie Jackson and husband, Tom, of Little Axe; six grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

He was buried in January 2003 at Resthaven Gardens Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Cleveland Co., OK, Findagrave #71328578.

     Joseph Alberton Leverich was born on 11 April 1914 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK.¹ He was the son of Oscar Alberton Leverich and Vinnie V. Walley. Joseph Alberton Leverich married Floretta Mae Myers, daughter of Henry K. Myers and Sarah Elizabeth Popejoy. Occupation: Truck driver in 1940 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK.¹ Joseph Alberton Leverich died on 8 March 1974 at age 59. He was buried in March 1974 at Rose Hill Burial Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK, Findagrave #73859076.

     Karon Denise Leverich was born on 20 January 1970 at Midwest City, Oklahoma Co., OK. She was the daughter of Reda Belle Rowland. Karon Denise Leverich married Timothy Dale Pershica. Karon Denise Leverich died on 21 April 1998 at Choctaw, Oklahoma Co., OK, at age 28. Cause of death: NEWPAPER ARTICLE

OKLAHOMA CITY (BP)--Shots rang out as parents, grandparents and other relatives were bringing children to Crestwood Baptist Church’s Day Care Center in Oklahoma City on the morning of April 21.
A continuing domestic conflict was brought to an abrupt end as 31-year-old Timothy Pershica allegedly shot his 28-year-old former wife, Karen, then turned the gun on himself. Both were dead at the scene in the church’s gymnasium.
Police detectives said Karen Pershica was delivering her children, Clinton, 5, and Jessica, 3, to the day-care facility when her ex-husband approached her, although she had a victims protective order against him.
He cornered her in the church’s gymnasium, and those in the day-care center said they heard no screaming or yelling until the shots were fired.
Day-care officials said none of the 90 children were injured and none of them witnessed the shooting.
Crestwood pastor Randy Cox said Tuesday afternoon that everything was very, very quiet, and all children had been picked up from the center by 11 a.m.
The day-care facility opened again at 7 a.m. Wednesday.
When a tragedy such as the shooting occurs, questions arise as to why it happened, could it have been prevented and are day-care centers safe for children? Sheri Babb, children’s/preschool ministries specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, said when something like the shooting happens, it’s just like any other disaster. “It was something that could not have been prevented,” she noted. “It was a violent act from an aggressive person.”
Cox said it was most unfortunate that the incident happened at Crestwood, but very fortunate that the gunman didn’t involve his kids.
Cox added the safety of the children at the day-care facility is of primary concern, but nothing different will be done because of this incident.
“We have a good safety system in place already,” Cox explained. “It was not the system that broke down.”
Cox said detectives told him Pershica was going to confront his wife, and he wasn’t going to be stopped.
At Crestwood’s day school, those dropping off children have to ring a bell and identify themselves before gaining admission to the building, Cox said.
“Apparently what happened today is that Pershica watched his wife go in, then when some other parents came to the door, he followed them in.”
The Department of Human Services commended the Crestwood day-care workers for their actions in “doing everything right” during the situation.
Babb said TV reports on the incident made it look like Crestwood didn’t have security in place.
“But most all of the facilities in our churches have a check-in, check-out system, and a packet of information that has to be filled out by parents, such as security cards, information on the children and injury forms,” she noted. She said 115 day-care centers in Oklahoma Baptist churches are members of Church Weekday Education Organization, and there are approximately 135 others not members of the organization.
Babb added day-care centers are secure places where parents can leave their children with qualified teachers.
“We would much rather the parents be with the children,” Babb said, “but there are parents who have desperate needs, and the church needs to be involved in the day-care centers helping the director and teachers meet the needs of all of the families, not just families who are members of the church.
“The weekday centers in our churches provide that Christian day care children wouldn’t get in any other child-care facility.”
Babb noted the incident at Crestwood “may speak louder to us a church people to say we need to make sure we have some kind of evangelistic efforts taking place in those church weekday programs, some way to witness to those parents and see that their needs are being met.”
She explained sometimes what happens in weekday programs is the church will see it as a separate part, almost not a ministry anymore.
“Many times, the church will say, ‘If you can make it on your own money, fine, you can have the day-care center,’” Babb said.
“What we need to do is pull that together again so the churches have the child-care center as a ministry of the church,” she said. “That’s going to be more important everyday as we see the government providing more and more child-care facilities.”
Ironically, Pershica was being ministered to by Oklahoma City’s Portland Avenue Baptist Church, where he had been a member about six months.
“Lately he had been very faithful, coming to Sunday school, both worship services on Sunday and Wednesday night services,” said pastor Walter Mullican. He was in church Sunday night before the Tuesday morning shooting.
Mullican said he and a couple other men in the church spent time with Pershica trying to be there anytime there was a crisis and talking through his divorce.
“There were some indications he had some suicidal tendencies, but not so much that he might take violent action against his wife,” Mullican said.
He said Pershica’s wife, Karen, attended Portland Avenue with the children about a year ago and was considering moving her membership there, but “she dropped out of sight and we found out she was separated.”
“When that happened, he started coming to church,” Mullican observed. “He wouldn’t come when she came and that was part of the problem. At one point she was really searching and he was resistant.”
Mullican said Portland Avenue members have been scratching their heads and asking if they missed something -- if something could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
“I frankly don’t know that anything different could have been done,” he assessed. “Tim was hearing what he needed to hear -- his relationship with God, what he needed to be doing and how it could be helpful -- but the bottom line comes down to whether he accepts it and does it or not.
“We have to understand when Tim made up his mind to do that, outside of one of us chaining ourselves to him and being with him 24 hours a day, I don’t know that we could have prevented this.”
Mullican pointed out there are a lot of hurting people, and some are in the church.
“You just keep presenting them with the truth, keep loving and ministering to them,” he said.
“There was a spiritual battle of cosmic proportions going on with Tim. On the one hand, he was hearing very clearly the truth of God’s Word and what needed to be in his life. At the same time, the enemy was whispering in the other ear, ‘Tim, this is the way you do that.’ We’re talking about spiritual warfare and battle that is going on for the very lives and souls of people.
“Everything in me wants to prevent something like this, but in the end, that person has got to make the decision.”.


She was buried in April 1998 at Elmwood Cemetery, Choctaw, Oklahoma Co., OK, Findagrave #39008095.

     Margaret Virginia Leverich was born on 10 May 1916 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK. She was the daughter of Oscar Alberton Leverich and Vinnie V. Walley. Margaret Virginia Leverich married J. B. Mitchell, son of James N. Mitchell and Roberta V. Evans, before 1 April 1935.¹ Margaret Virginia Leverich and J. B. Mitchell were divorced. Margaret Virginia Leverich married George Franklin Morris, son of Andrew J. Morris and Pearl M. Cram, before 1983. Margaret Virginia Leverich died on 10 September 1983 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK, at age 67. She was buried in September 1983 at Rose Hill Burial Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK, Findagrave #93215732.

     Note: Oscar Alberton Leverich's biological parents were Oscar Todd Leverich and Margaret Angeline "Margie" Shutt. If they were actually married, they did not stay married very long as Margaret was married to Samuel Henry DeVault less than seven months after Oscar Alberton Leverich was born. The 1910 Census shows Oscar Alberton Leverich living with Margaret's mother, Mary (Steele) Shutt-Kephart-Reeves. In this census he is listed as a grandson.

It appears that Oscar Alberton Leverich's parents, Oscar Todd Leverich and Margaret Angeline "Margie" Shutt, met in Warren County, Iowa and that Oscar Alberton Leverich was born in Iowa there 10 Feb 1890. Both of his parents soon married others and both families moved to different counties in Oklahoma. I have listed Oscar Alberton Leverich as a child under Samuel and Margaret (Shutt) DeVault because it appears that he was raised by them from the time they were married until he left home.

Oscar Todd Leverich seems to have been an unsavory character. He was born 8 Oct 1870 in Madison County, Iowa and died in 1953 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. See details under Oscar T. Leverich.

Oscar Alberton Leverich was born on 10 February 1890 at Des Moines, Polk Co., IA. He was the son of Oscar Todd Leverich and Margaret Angeline Shutt. Oscar Alberton Leverich married Vinnie V. Walley, daughter of Joseph Sylvenus Walley and Ona Sophronia Stephens, on 29 April 1913. Oscar Alberton Leverich died on 20 January 1943 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK, at age 52. He was buried in January 1943 at Sunny Lane Cemetery, Del City, Oklahoma Co., OK, Findagrave #64831427.

     Oscar Todd Leverich was born on 8 October 1870 at Madison Co., IA.
Note: Oscar Alberton Leverich's biological parents were Oscar Todd Leverich and Margaret Angeline "Margie" Shutt. If they were actually married, they did not stay married very long as Margaret was married to Samuel Henry DeVault less than seven months after Oscar Alberton Leverich was born. The 1910 Census shows Oscar Alberton Leverich living with Margaret's mother, Mary (Steele) Shutt-Kephart-Reeves. In this census he is listed as a grandson.

It appears that Oscar Alberton Leverich's parents, Oscar Todd Leverich and Margaret Angeline "Margie" Shutt, met in Warren County, Iowa and that Oscar Alberton Leverich was born in Iowa there 10 Feb 1890. Both of his parents soon married others and both families moved to different counties in Oklahoma. I have listed Oscar Alberton Leverich as a child under Samuel and Margaret (Shutt) DeVault because it appears that he was raised by them from the time they were married until he left home.

Oscar Todd Leverich seems to have been an unsavory character. He was born 8 Oct 1870 in Madison County, Iowa and died in 1953 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oscar married Lillian May Smith in Oklahoma and they had four children born between 1894 and 1901. There must have been considerable domestic problems. Lillian divorced Oscar in September of 1903 and obtained custody of the children. Oscar visited them at Lillian's parents' farm before she died. Lillian was in poor health and died at her parents' farm on May 12, 1904. There appears to have been considerable disagreement as to the custody of the children. In any case, in December of 1904, Oscar Todd Leverich was on trial for the murder of Lillian's brother, Oscar Smith. The newspaper articles below discuss the custody situation, murder trial and acquittal. Oscar Todd Leverich is shown in the 1910 Census with his new wife and several new children. The children from his marriage to Lillian were living with Perry Smith, another of Lillian's brothers.

1903 Divorces - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (6/30/1903)

Probate Judge Harper yesterday issued a writ of habeas corpus ordering Oscar
Leverick, charged with illegally holding in his custody Ovia May Leverich, aged 7,
Clarence Elmer Leverich, age 5, and Jessie McVay Leverich, to produce said children
before the court at 2 o'clock on the afternoon of June 30. The writ was sworn out by
the mother of the children, Lillian M. Leverich, and a warrant was also sworn out for the
arrest of Oscar Leverich, charging him with securing the children from their mother by
stealth for the purpose of getting them out of the jurisdiction of the court.


NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Oklahoman, 17 December 1904; 18 December 1904; 10 January 1905.

Oscar Leverich was charged with killing his brother in law Oscar Smith by hitting him in the head with stove wood from a scuffle that broke out at the Smith house when Oscar Leverich went there with two friends to see his children who were with his wife Lillian and were staying at her family house. Leverich being there to talk to his wife after she had begun divorce proceedings against him.
Smith Testimony - testimony from Martha Smith, mother of the Lillian, wife of Leverich said: A week or two before the murder Leverich came to our house and remained all day. He was talking to my daughter and we heard her crying. I went in and found that he had his hands on her face. He said they were talking over their trouble. Then Leverich came out of the room and he didn't know what was the matter with her. Said she had ordered him away. We invited him to stay for dinner and he remained until after dark. Leverich told my husband that by God he would kill Oscar and John Smith before he would allow them to have anything to do with his children. Mr. Smith told him to get out and go home and not worry his daughter, because she was too ill. Leverich said he would not go until he got ready. He left at nine o'clock that night. My daughter died on May 10. Witness said that on December 6, Leverich came again. This was the Sunday following the day Mr. Smith ordered Leverich away. Leverich came after the divorce proceedings had been instructed by his wife. Before that time Leverich had not been to our place for three months. Leverich knocked on the door, Mr. Smith opened and said "How do you do?" Leverich said he came to see the children.
Mr. Smith said he could not come in, and got the children and started to take them out to the porch. Continuing, witness said that Leverich kicked in the door and forced it open. Then he poked his head through and called out; "Lillie, Lillie, you and the children have been in this penitentiary long enough and I am going to get you out in a couple of days." John Smith then told Leverich that he could not come in. Leverich then kicked at him and grabbed an iron square off the porch and struck at him. Leverich said "I'll cut your damn brains out." A scuffle took place and John (Smith) took the square away from Leverich. Leverich then picked up two sticks of stovewood and John took one of them away from him. Leverich then struck him and felled him to the ground.
There were two people who came with Leverich, their names being Reed and Seeger. At the time Leverich knocked John down, Reed made a motion toward his hip pocket as if he was armed. Lillie asked Reed to take Leverich away before he did any more mischief. Mr. Smith, my husband, was standing on the porch, saying nothing, when Leverich said, "You God damn gray bearded old man, I'll do the same to you the same way if you come out here." About this time Oscar came from the barn yard. He approached Leverich and told him to get out, that he had killed his brother. Leverich said God damn you, I'll give you what I did to the other." While Leverich was standing holding the club over his head, Mr. Smith told him to get out, that he had killed one of his sons. "It ain't my funeral," replied Leverich. Leverich started out, but turned and struck Oscar and knocked him down. Witness said that she and her daughter helped Oscar up and that later in the afternoon Oscar drove to Moore to get a doctor for John. When he came back that night, said the witness, he was lifeless. He lived until 1 o'clock that night and died without regaining his senses. John was unconscious for two weeks but recovered.
After testimony by the defense in part disputing the Smith testimony and that Leverich acted in a manner of self defense from threatening acts from Oscar and John. Judge Stephenson decided that he did act in self defense when he struck his brother-in-law and Oscar Leverich was cleared of all charges and the case was dismissed.


NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Wapanucka Press, 14 January 1904, Wapanucka, Johnston County, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)

SELF DEFENSE CLEARS LEVERICH
Oklahoma City: Oscar Leverich, accused of the murder of Oscar Smith south of the city a month or so ago, was discharged by Judge Stephenson at the conclusion of the preliminary examination, the judge holding that the evidence showed that Leverich was acting in self-defense when he struck the blow that killed his brother-in-law. Reed and Seegar, accused of being accessories has previously been discharged. The defendants were represented by Colonel J. W. Johnson, while Attorney Fulton represented the territory in the absence of County Attorney Ramer.

He died in 1953 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK.

     Shirley Annett Leverich was born on 1 January 1941 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK. She was the daughter of Joseph Alberton Leverich and Floretta Mae Myers. Shirley Annett Leverich married Robert Wayne Haese, son of Wayne Smith Haese and Martha Lee Markgraf. Shirley Annett Leverich died on 28 June 2001 at Meeker, Lincoln Co., OK, at age 60.

     Benjamin Levering was the son of Jacob Levering and Alice Tunes.¹ Benjamin Levering married Catharine Righter.¹

     Flora Maria Levering was born on 23 September 1855 at Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.¹ She was the daughter of John Levering D.D.S. and Mary Shugard.¹ Flora Maria Levering married Thomas B. Hammer on 8 October 1879.¹

     Francis D. Levering was born on 18 February 1862 at Germantown, Philadelphia Co., PA.¹ He was the son of John Levering D.D.S. and Mary Shugard.¹ Francis D. Levering lived in 1890 at Denver, CO, Settled in Denver in 1890, was President, Central Trust Co. there.¹ He married Mary C. Hennig on 21 June 1892, No children (1910 census, Lancaster, Nebraska, Lincoln Ward 5).¹ Francis D. Levering lived in 1923 at Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., VA.¹

     Hannah Levering was the daughter of William Levering and Hannah Clements.¹ Hannah Levering married Peter Keyser.¹

     Jacob Levering was the son of John Wigard Levering and Magdalena Böker.¹ Jacob Levering married Alice Tunes.¹

     John Levering was born on 18 October 1789 at Roxborough, Philadelpha Co., PA. He was the son of Michael Levering and Catherine Tibben.¹ John Levering married Maria Stearne on 1 January 1816.¹ John Levering died on 13 November 1878 at Norristown, Montgomery Co., PA, at age 89. He was buried in November 1878 at Leverington Cemetery, Roxborough, Philadelphia Co., PA, Findagrave #86112490.

     John Levering D.D.S. was born on 19 August 1820.¹ He was the son of John Levering and Maria Stearne.¹ John Levering D.D.S. married Mary Shugard, daughter of Henry Shugard and Catharine Nice, on 28 May 1851.¹ John Levering D.D.S. died on 13 October 1923 at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia Co. (probably), PA, at age 103 Dr. Levering, D.D.S., practised his profession until about 1870; was an Odd Fellow for over 76 years and lived to the remarkable age of 103. His father, John Levering, was a son of Michael and Catherine (Moyer neé Tibben) Levering; grandson of Benjamin and Catharine (Righter) Levering; great-grandson of Jacob and Alice (Tunes) Levering, great-great-grandson of Wigard and Magdalena (Boker) Levering, great-great-great-grandson of Rosier and Elizabeth (Van de Walle) Levering, d. Gemen, Westphalia, Germany, near the Holland frontier.¹

     John Wigard Levering was born circa 1648 at Gemen, Westfalia, Germany. He was the son of Rosier Levering and Elizabeth Van de Walle.¹ John Wigard Levering married Magdalena Böker.¹ John Wigard Levering lived at Roxborough Twp., Philadelphia Co. (now), PA, Pioneer settler.

     Katharine Levering was born on 13 March 1852.¹ She was the daughter of John Levering D.D.S. and Mary Shugard.¹ Katharine Levering married Cornelius G. Bradshaw on 23 May 1887, No children.¹

     Michael Levering was the son of Benjamin Levering and Catharine Righter.¹ Michael Levering married Catherine Tibben.¹

     Rosier Levering was born circa 1615 at Leydon, Holland. He married Elizabeth Van de Walle, daughter of Jacobus Van de Walle, circa 1647 at Wesel, Westfalia, Germany.¹ Rosier Levering was Mennonite. He died at Gemen, Westphalia, Germany.²

     William Levering was the son of William Levering and Catherine (?)¹ William Levering married Hannah Clements.¹

     William Levering was the son of John Wigard Levering and Magdalena Böker.¹ William Levering married Catherine (?).¹

     Emile Levernier married Ann Myers, daughter of John R. Myers and Mary Jane Johnson, on 31 March 1901 at Waverly, Pike Co., OH.

     Harold Levine was born on 27 October 1920 at Aberdeen, Brown Co., SD. He married Helen Elisabeth Rorris, daughter of George Dimitrious Rorris and Mary Alba Greever. Harold Levine began military service on 8 September 1942 WW II service, U.S. Army, enlisted, released 11 SEP 1945. He died on 21 October 1995 at age 74. He was buried in October 1995 at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Sioux City, Woodbury Co., IA, Findagrave #180235182.

     George Clifton Levingston Jr. was born on 25 October 1941 at Mechanicsburg, Champaign Co., OH. He was the son of George Clifton Levingston Sr. and Thelma Marie Tobias. George Clifton Levingston Jr. died on 23 October 1996 at age 54.

     George Clifton Levingston Sr. was born on 1 October 1912 at Licking Co., OH. He was the son of William Foster Levingston and Pansy Arlue Bullock. George Clifton Levingston Sr. married Thelma Marie Tobias, daughter of Wilbur Riley Tobias and Nina Esta Northup. George Clifton Levingston Sr. died on 17 December 1972 at London, Madison Co., OH, at age 60. He was buried in December 1972 at Maple Grove Cemetery, Mechanicsburg, Madison Co., OH, Findagrave #101655404.

     William Foster Levingston was born on 9 November 1884 at Utica, Licking Co., OH. He married Pansy Arlue Bullock. William Foster Levingston died in October 1963 at Detroit, Wayne Co., MI, at age 78.

     Anna Ocelia Lewallen was born in 1873 at Missouri.¹ She married Milton Byron Foster on 25 October 1893 at Clinton Co., MO.¹ Anna Ocelia Lewallen died in 1947. She was buried in 1947 at Stewartsville Cemetery, Stewartsville, DeKalb Co., MO, Findagrave #17630663.

     Edgar L. Lewellin was born circa 1881 at Missouri. He married Lizzie M. Wilkins.

     Letha Lewellin was born circa 1902 at Missouri. She was the daughter of Edgar L. Lewellin and Lizzie M. Wilkins. Letha Lewellin married Norris L. Barnes, son of Jonathan O. Barnes and Meda C. Windle, on 22 February 1923 at Ethel, Macon Co., MO.