Howell C. Finley -- Auto Mechanic

 

Howell C. Finley

Howell C. Finley was born on February 5, 1925 in Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the fourth of the six children of Burnett and Myrtle Mable Cunningham Finley.  Burnett was a farmer and both he and Myrtle were natives of Trigg County.  Both Burnett and Myrtle were descendants of the large pioneer Cunningham family that had settled in Trigg County.  Howell was a descendant of Cullen Bridges and Cullen Thomas.

Howell’s siblings were James Aubrey Finley, born in 1920 and died at 1½ years of age; Layton Burnett Finley, born in 1922 and died at one year of age; Marcus Lee Finley, born in 1924 and married Pauline Cunningham; Sally Isabelle Finley, born in 1928 and married Wallace Reid Gordon; and Daniel Webster Finley, born in 1933 and married Nora Mae Forguson.

Howell grew up in the Maple Grove community of Trigg County and attended the local rural schools.

On February 10, 1945, Howell married Rosie Mae Allen in the Maple Grove School House which was being used as the church building for the newly organized Maple Grove Baptist Church. Their wedding, performed by Rev. Noel, was the first wedding for the new church. Rosie was born on March 13, 1929 in Trigg County, the daughter of General Forrest Allen and Addie Janetta Johnson Allen.  General Forrest was a farmer and both he and Addie Janetta were natives of Trigg County.

Howell and Rosie built their home in 1947 about 2½ miles north of Cadiz.  Howell worked as an auto mechanic in Trigg County.  In 1956, he built his own auto repair shop next to his home.  The business was known as Finley’s Repair Shop and he did all types of repairs such as auto, farm machinery, welding and painting.  In the mid-1970s he changed the business to chainsaw sales and services only.  Rosie was the co-owner of the business and assisted Howell with its operation. He worked in this business until he retired.

Howell and Rosie were the parents of six children, Franna Elaine Finley, born in 1946 and married Philip Ray Ingram and then married R.D. Johnson; Jackie Howell Finley, born in 1948 and married Martha Ann Chubick; Paul Clinton Finley, born in 1950 and married Janice Paulette Hall; Nickie Dwayne Finley, born in 1952 and married Flora Gene Merrick Armstrong and later married Connie S. Miller Reed; Timothy Burnett Finley, born in 1954 and married Sharon Ann Meredith; and Becky Laverne Finley, born in 1959 and married to Donnie Thomas Freeman.

Howell died on January 9, 2012 at the age of 86 at the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz.  He was buried in the Allen Cemetery in Trigg County.  Rosie died on November 27, 2014 at the age of 85 at St. Thomas Medical Center West in Nashville, Tennessee.  She was buried in the Allen Cemetery next to her husband.

 Howell and Rosie

 

Howell in the 1990s

 

Rosie

 

Howell and Rosie tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Howell C. Finley was the son of Burnett and Myrtle Mable Cunningham Finley.  Myrtle was the first child of Elmer Elsworth “Ell” and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham.  Rosa was the seventh child of Cullen T. and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges.  Cullen was the twelfth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Martha Ann was the third child of Peyton and Sarah Ethridge Thomas.  Peyton was the third child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.  Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)