| Sources |
- [S50] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;), 1930 US Census Leo Willette.
24 Apr 1930
Name: Leo Willett
Birth Year: abt 1903
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 27
Birthplace: New York
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Mooers, Clinton, New York, USA
Map of Home:
Street Address: Fee Road
Dwelling Number: 56
Family Number: 56
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Home Value: 4
Radio Set: No
Lives on Farm: No
Age at First Marriage: 21
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Laborer
Industry: Excelsior mill
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members Age Relationship
Leo Willett 27, works in excelsior mill,married 1924
Della Willett 26. married 1924
Cleo Willett 4 Son
Clifford Willett 3 Son
Douglas Willett 2 Son
Patricia Willett 1 Daughter
Junior Leo Willett 0 Son
- [S50] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;), Year: 1930; Census Place: Mooers, Clinton, New York; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0022; FHL microfilm: 2341151.
- [S94] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), 2011 Find A Grave Cleophas J Willette.
Birth: Jun. 29, 1925 Mooers Clinton County New York, USA
Death: Jul. 7, 2011 Allentown Lehigh County Pennsylvania, USA
CHAMPLAIN —
Cleophas J. "Smiley" Willette, 86, former long-time resident of Champlain, was called to eternal life with the Lord on Thursday, July 7, 2011, at The Westminster Home in Allentown, Pa. He was born in Mooers, N.Y., on June 29, 1925, the oldest son of Leo A. Willette and Della (Babbie) Willette.
Cleo enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan. 19, 1944, and served on the USS Leon APA 48 in the South Pacific. There he served as the boatswain mate second class.
He was discharged on May 8, 1946, and was the recipient of four medals: American Theater, Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.
Returning to Champlain, Cleo was employed as a machinist for Sheridan Iron Works and later as a supervisor for Harris Graphics. He would work by day and often the Sunset Ramblers had engagements to provide music in the evenings.
Better known as "Smiley," he and his wife, "Melody Al," headed up the Sunset Ramblers Country and Western Band. They aired on local radio stations WIRI and WEAV in Plattsburgh and soon after hosted a live TV show, The Saturday Night Jamboree on WPTZ, Channel 5, as well as a TV show from CHLT, Channel 7, Sherbrooke, Quebec. They recorded three long playing records under the Westar (Rusticana) label out of Montreal.
Family links:
Spouse: Alfreda Ruth Phaneuf Willette (1927 - 2013
Burial: Old Saint Mary's Cemetery Champlain Clinton County New York, USA Find A Grave Memorial# 123759585
- [S114] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Year: 1940; Census Place: Champlain, Clinton, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02516; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 10-9.
- [S237] Ancestry.com, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2011;), 1943 WWII Draft Cleophas Joseph Willette.
Name: Cleophas Joseph Willette
Race: White
Age: 18
Birth Date: 29 Jun 1925
Birth Place: Mooers , New York
Residence Place: Champlain, Clinton, New York
Registration Date: 29 Jun 1943
Registration Place: Rouses Point, New York, USA
Employer: Sheridan Iron Works
Weight: 126
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5''6"
Next of Kin: Della Willette
Household Members Relationship
Cleophas Joseph Willette
Della Willette - Mother
Scar on left arm, Wears glasses
- [S253] Ancestry.com, Alabama, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1969, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;).
- [S114] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), 1940 US Census Leo A Willette.
24 Apr 1940
Name: Leo A Willette
Age: 37
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: New York
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Champlain, Clinton, New York
Map of Home in 1940:
Street: Cedar Street
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Champlain, Clinton, New York
Residence in 1935: Champlain
Sheet Number: 12A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 246
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Occupation: Tool Room Clerk
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 9
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: College, 5th or subsequent year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 44
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 936
Income Other Sources: Yes
Native Language: French
Veteran: No
Social Security Number: Yes
Usual Occupation: Tool Room Elerk
Usual Industry: Iron
Usual Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship
Leo A Willette 37, tool room clerk at Sheridan
Della P Willette 36 Wife
Cleo J Willette 14 Son
Clifford L Willette 13 Son
Donglas E Willette 12 Son
Patrica D Willette 11 Daughter
Leo A Willette Jr 10 Son
Roderick A Willette 9 Son
- [S123] United States Federal Census, 1930 US Census, (Name: National Archives and Records Administration; Location: Washington, DC;), 1930 US Census Leo Willette.
24 Apr 1930
Name: Leo Willett
Birth Year: abt 1903
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 27
Birthplace: New York
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Mooers, Clinton, New York, USA
Map of Home:
Street Address: Fee Road
Dwelling Number: 56
Family Number: 56
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Home Value: 4
Radio Set: No
Lives on Farm: No
Age at First Marriage: 21
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Laborer
Industry: Excelsior mill
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members Age Relationship
Leo Willett 27, works in excelsior mill,married 1924
Della Willett 26. married 1924
Cleo Willett 4 Son
Clifford Willett 3 Son
Douglas Willett 2 Son
Patricia Willett 1 Daughter
Junior Leo Willett 0 Son
- [S38] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936, (Name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Location: Provo, UT;), 1924 Marriage Willette Babbie.
Name: Leo Alfred Willette
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Birth Date: abt 1903
Birth Place: Mooers
Marriage Date: 2 Sep 1924
Marriage Place: Moores, Clinton, New York, USA
Father: Felix Willette
Mother: Marceline Raymond
Spouse: Della Pearl Babbie
Age: 20
Birth Date: abt 1904
Birth Place: Champlain
Father: Joseph Babbie
Mother: Emma Vachereau
Film Number: 000863410
Married by Catholic Priest
- [S66] Ancestry.com, New York, County Marriages, 1847-1849; 1907-1936, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2016;).
- [S94] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), 2013 Find A Grave Alfreda R Willette.
Birth: Aug. 8, 1927 Champlain Clinton County New York,
USA Death: Sep. 27, 2013 Allentown Lehigh County Pennsylvania, USA
Alfreda R. "Melody Al" Willette, completed her earthly sojourn of 86 yrs. on Sept. 27, 2013 when Our Blessed Lord called her to come home to Him. Family members were with her as she embarked on her new life. She was a resident at Westminster Nursing Home in Allentown, PA.
In 1946, Alfreda married her childhood sweetheart, Cleophas (Smiley) Willette at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Mobile, Alabama.
Prior to moving to Bethlehem, PA, Alfreda was a life long resident of Champlain, NY. She was an active member of her community and served as President of the American Legion Post 767 Auxiliary. She was a communicant of St. Mary's Church and was responsible for forming the Folk Group in 1986. She was also a Third Order Fransican for the past 27 years.
In her younger years, Alfreda (Melody Al) along with her husband Smiley Willette played on WIRY and WEAV in Plattsburgh. Additionally, they hosted the live tv show, Saturday Night Jamboree, on Channel 5 WPTZ. Their country western band 'Smiley Willette and the Sunset Ramblers' provided entertainment in Northern NY, Vermont, Quebec and Ontario. Melody Al wrote and recorded "Slave of Your Heart" and "Faraway Look In Your Eyes". Together they also recorded three LP records under the Rusticana Label from Montreal. Their last professional engagement was in 1970.
Alfreda then joined the work force as a supervisor at Pamplon Vestments in Champlain Alfreda was an excellent cook, loved to knit, crochet and play pinochle with anyone who didn't mind losing. She fiercely loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and was happiest when spending time with them. Her musical abilities were only surpassed by her love for the Lord and her Family. Her exuberant personality will be greatly missed by many.
She is predeceased by her husband, Smiley (Cleo) Willette, her parents Antoine and Allie Phaneuf, her siblings Antoine, Albert, Richard, Madeline Barker, Margaret Clark, Theresa Leahy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 86 Church St., Champlain, NY with Rev. Bill Edwards, celebrating the mass. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Church St., Champlain, NY.
Family links:
Spouse: Cleophas J. Willette (1925 - 2011) Burial: Old Saint Mary's Cemetery Champlain Clinton County New York, USA Find A Grave Memorial# 123759057
- [S253] Ancestry.com, Alabama, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1969, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;).
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1925 - 2011 (86 years)
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Siblings
