Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
John was the son of Jeremiah Sharp Okey and his wife Elizabeth (nee Jackson). He was born at Gainford on March 15th 1882 and later baptised on April 9th 1882 at St Mary the Virgin church, Staindrop. His parents had several children together including Frank, Norris, Samuel, Beatrice, Marion, Gladys, Lillie and Florence (who died in 1914).
1891 census shows the census with John, Lillie, Samuel and Florence. Father Jeremiah was a carpenter by trade.
By 1901 more children had arrived namely Norris, Beatrice, Marion and Gladys. Jeremiah had changed his job to joiner/journeyman whilst John worked as a grocer’s assistant in Middlesbrough, Lillie had work as a milliner’s apprentice and Samuel was an apprentice grocer. Elizabeth Okey died in 1903.
John married his sweetheart Maria Elizabeth Elliott of Southowram at Middledbrough on April 27th 1904 and they went on to produce 5 children together who were named Annie, Ethel, Alice and John. In 1913 another daughter, Hilda, was born. They also were able to afford a servant.
John enlisted into the army at Perth, Scotland. He served with the Black Watch and was sadly killed in action on 10th September 1918.
His brother Norris also died in 1918 and is buried with a CWGC headstone in Barnard Castle. Brothers Frank and Samuel both served. Samuel was discharged due to a wound and died in 1925.
John Okey is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
He is also remembered at Southowram, near Halifax
