Person:Koral Hawkins (1)

       Koral May Hawkins was born on the family farm on 4 August 1897. She was the seventh child born to Jonas and Louisa (Turner) Hawkins, and was born the year following the death of her brother, Wray Vestal, who was born 16 September 1894, and died 19 July 1896. 
      The following was found (typed) in Koral's personal effects following her death, 7 March 1977: ".... She was a graduate of Sharpsville High School & Sherwood Music Conservatory, Chicago, Illinois. She was married to Emery Raymond Dark, July 10, 1918 in Louisville, Kentucky, and resided there while her husband was in the U.S Service at Camp Taylor, Ky.
     Koral and Emery Dark had graduated from Sharpsville High School in 1915, the fifth class to graduate from the new high school. Emery Raymond Dark was born 26 December 1894 to Frank and Anna Dark. His grandfather, Franklin Jonathan Dark, was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War.  
     They returned to the Sharpsville community after the Armistice was signed. Koral taught music for many years while her husband farmed. She was accompanist for the East Hopewell & Sharpsville Presbyterian Church & the Sharpsville Methodist Church for 43 years. She was a Past Matron of the Eastern Star #148, past 5th Dist. Pres. of W W #1 Aux., past President of the Sharpsville American Legion Aux, Pres. of the H. & H. Club [Helpful Hints], where she was a charter member, also past member of the Professional Business Women's Club. She was an accompanist for the 50 Plus club for 7 years. 
     She was the mother of 2 daughters, Mrs. George 'Betty' (Dark) Barletta, Long Island, New York, and Suzanna Jane (Dark) Temple, Lafayette, Indiana. 
     Due to a break in the health of Mr. Dark they moved to Tipton & served as the Veterans Service Officer for 16 years. She was appointed to serve after the death of her husband April 23, 1960. She retired after 9 years service on the 29th of May 1969....." 
     Following Emery's death, Koral was active in the American Legion Auxiliary, the Order of Eastern Star, and the Business and Professional Women's Club. They are buried together in the Sharpsville Cemetery, which has been described as one of the prettiest cemeteries in the state of Indiana. 
     Koral married Jessie Morgan DeVault  of Tipton 29 May 1969.
     Harold Hawkins, in his book "Hawkins Family...", stated that, "Aunt Koral was a big, big woman," and he recalled her riding around in the side-car of Emery's motorcycle. 

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Census - 1940 Liberty Twp, Tipton Co., IN, Sheet 3-A, listing Emeory & Koral (Hawkins) Dark, and dau. Betty Rose (a student nurse) and Susanna J. .............................

Lt. Emery &Koral (Hawkins) Dark circa 1918.

Koral May (Hawkins) and Emery R. Dark, circa 1920.

Koral (Hawkins) Dark & Jesse M. DeVault 29 May 1969.

Emery & Koral (Hawkins) Dark DeVault gravestone, Sharpsville, Indiana USA..