Cooney’s Tomb and Cemetery
Alma, Catron County, New Mexico Nov. 17, 2007©
By Nancy E. Brown, Catron County Genealogist, and Arlena
Boggs
Return to Catron County Cemetery Page
Update: Cooney Tomb Cemetery: 2008
There has been a native stone Memorial added to the little
cemetery behind Cooney’s Tomb. I found it recently while showing a family
member this site. The memorial was for William L “Bill” May, Jr. who was born
Oct 6, 1911, in Cooney, New Mexico to William L. May Sr. and Ollie Belle (Clark)
May. He died Jan 10, 2008 at his home in Camp Verde, Arizona. He had lived in
Camp Verde for 30 years, coming from Bakersfield, California where he worked for
Arco Oil Company.
I thought the above was very interesting since the little (boy) Elza E. May, who
died in 1905, is buried in this cemetery. For some unknown reason, some
would-be genealogists have labeled him as little Elza May, daughter of Charlie
Clark. I challenge them to show me the name “Clark” on his headstone. There is
a plaque with a picture of a little boy on it, giving his name and dates that is
placed by his headstone. It is a shame they will not admit their error and
correct the mistake. I am enclosing the new pictures. Nancy E. Brown
Update, by Kevin O'Cooney 2/8/2012
My Uncle Hugh and Cousin John were both put in the tomb after their untimely
deaths. My Uncle died of Diphtheria. His Father was my Grandfather Thomas. My
father was Thomas’ third child, William Weatherby. I do not know what caused
John’s death. He was the son of Michael. My father was also involved in the
search for his Great Uncle Mike. My Grandfather moved from Ontario Canada to New
Orleans to live with Michael when Michael was in charge of the Port there. He
followed Uncle Mike to New Mexico after the news of the death of James. One of
the Mines in the area is named after my Grandmother, Maude. I plan to repair the
Tomb and clean the area in the near future. Thank you for the great web site!
Kevin
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Cooney’s Tomb and Cemetery is about 5 miles east of Alma, New
Mexico. It is in Cooney Canyon on Mineral Creek. The Tomb is on the right hand
side the road going east. For many years there were four graves in front of the
Tomb enclosed in a low wrought iron fence and the boulder was a good hundred
feet or so from the creek. During one of the great hundred year floods, the
raging torrent took out all the dirt and rock right up to the Tomb and almost
cut under it, washing away the graves that were in front of the Tomb. Two large
marble stones with J.C. Cooney’s name and the two Cooney children’s names were
also washed away. Material had to be hauled in to rebuild a road by the Tomb.
Cooney's Tomb after the flood of 1986. Photo Headstones that washed away Photo 1955 Photo Poster James Cooney in tomb
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