Ancestor Report
generation I

1 (0)
woman‎Caitlin Y Parker‏‎ PRIVACY FILTER
generation II (Parents)

2 (1)
manCody Patrick Parker‏ PRIVACY FILTER
  to:
3 (1)
womanSara Leitzau‏ PRIVACY FILTER
generation III (Grandparents)

4 (2)
manPatrick Dean Parker‏ PRIVACY FILTER
  to:
5 (2)
womanBecky Mills‏ PRIVACY FILTER
generation IV (Great-Grandparents)

8 (4)
manAlton Daniel "Al" Parker‏
Born ‎18 Dec 1921 Mexia, Limestone County, Texas, died ‎8 Jun 2018 Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana‎, age 96 years
In 1992: 1400 2nd Ave.N.W.,Great Falls,MT 59404


Alton D. Parker, born December 18, 1921 passed away June 8, 2018 at Benefis Westview.

Al was born in Mexia, TX. He was stationed at East Army Base in Great Falls where he met and married Esther Rooney during WWII.

He quickly fell in love with the beauty of Montana and the outdoor lifestyle it offered while pursuing his interest in hunting, bird dogs and fishing sports.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Esther Rooney Parker and son, Gary Parker.

He is survived by a daughter, a son and daughter-in-law , 8 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Complete obituary at Croxford Funeral Home
  Married ‎1 Dec 1943 Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana, age 21 years (married 66 years) to:
9 (4)
womanEsther Lucille Rooney‏
Born ‎18 Oct 1924 Hobson, Judith Basin County, Montana, died ‎22 Apr 2010 Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana‎, age 85 years
1400 2nd Ave. N.W., Great Falls, MT 59404


Esther L. (Rooney) Parker, 85, of Great Falls, died Thursday of natural causes at a local hospital.

A vigil memorial is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's, with burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Croxford Funeral Home.

Esther was born October 18, 1924 in Hobson, Montana. to Frank and Mary Rooney. She grew up on the family ranch with her 12 brothers and sisters in the Ross Fork area, and graduated valedictorian from Moore High School and attended Northern Montana University.

After leaving college, Esther moved to Great Falls during WWII and worked civil service at East Base Hospital, now known as Malmstrom Air Force Base. It was while working at East Base that she met Army Air Corpsman medic Al Parker. They married on Dec. 1, 1943, in Great Falls.

She moved to Fresno, California while Al was in the military. After being discharged, she moved to Al's hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, for a year. Montana called them home to Lewistown, then to her longtime home of Great Falls in 1947. They moved to the West Side, where she raised their three children, Gary, Karen and Pat.

After Al suffered a serious accident in 1961, Esther returned to work at First National Bank and then at Great Falls High School as a records clerk, where she retired. Gary graduated as a GFHS Bison, but Karen and Pat both graduated as C.M. Russell Rustlers; she loved to harass them by decorating the house with Bison blue and white memorabilia.

Esther was an avid reader, worked crossword puzzles, and was a very avid sports enthusiast, especially watching the Braves, and cheering on her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren playing baseball, softball or whatever event they were participating in. She was known for always having the best fresh-baked cookies, and at anyone's request would bake their favorites. At family reunions she always received the award for best cookie baker.

For 47 years she was a bowling fanatic. At one time, she bowled on three leagues a week and was still always available to substitute bowl at the drop of a phone call.

She was extremely proud of her Irish heritage, and a highlight was when she and Karen made a memorable trip to Ireland in 1991.

She was dearly loved by all of her family and was the happiest at family gatherings; she was always hospitable and her home was always open to everyone. She was a gentle, kind and classy person who was loved and will be missed by her family and all who knew her.

Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Al Parker; daughter, Karen (Dan) Griffin; son, Pat (Becky) Parker; grandchildren, Shad (Holly) Griffin, Shane (Staci) Griffin, Jami Cohen, Mandy (Cliff) Garness, Kelly (Scott) Weinberger, Cody (Sara) Parker, Roni (Mike) Baker and Gerri (John) Campbell; great-grandchildren, Emma Griffin, Hunter and Brooklyn Griffin, Waric and Quinn Cohen, Jake and Kade Garness, Caitlin and Payton Parker, Andee and Adam Baker, and Adessa and Parker Campbell; sisters, Betty (Bob) Saxbury, Mickie (Howard) Stone and Kay (Ed) Lane; and numerous loved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Gary Parker; her granddaughter, Cindy Parker; her parents, Frank and Mary Jane Rooney; her brothers, Frank Rooney, Russell Rooney and George Rooney; and by her sisters, Agatha Funston, Gertrude Lindgren, Vivian Shaw, Bernice Rooney and Ilene Waite.

At the time she passed, she was surrounded by her family who all loved her dearly.

Memorials in her name are suggested to St. Joseph's Catholic Church or charity of donor's choice. Condolences may be posted online at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.

Published in Great Falls Tribune on April 25, 2010
generation V (Great Great-Grandparents)

18 (9)
manFrancis John Patrick "Frank; F.J.P." Rooney‏
Born ‎28 Oct 1877 Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎26 Aug 1953 Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, Montana Event Description: Calvary Cemetery, Lewiston, Fergus County, MT‎, age 75 years, buried ‎31 Aug 1953 Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana
From MN to MT when about 6 yr old
Eileen, adopted

1916, he and Tom in horse-drawn wagon hit by train; Tom killed; Frank had damaged arm that never mended properly

Anaconda STANDARD: D: age 76; 28 Aug. rosary at Kendrick Funeral Chapel, Anaconda; funeral 31 Aug at St.Leo Cath.Church in Lewistown (Creel Funeral Home)
  Married ‎20 Apr 1910 Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana, age 32 years (married 43 years) to:
19 (9)
womanMary Jane Nicholson‏
Born ‎1 Mar 1889 Illinois, died ‎30 Dec 1980 Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, Montana Event Description: Calvary Cemetery, Lewistown, Montana‎, age 91 years, buried ‎2 Jan 1981
Mary Jane also reared Eileen, the adopted daughter of her husband and deceased first spouse.
generation VI (3rd Great-Grandparents)

36 (18)
manMichael Tracy ""Black Mike" or "M.T."" Rooney‏
Born ‎2 Aug 1845 Wakefield Township, Outaouais, Quebec, Canada, died ‎1922 Hobson, Judith Basin County, Montana Event Description: Philbrook Cemetery‎, age 76 or 77 years
Michael T Rooney (aka Black Mike) built the first permanent building in Billings, Montana . He was the first of the three brother to go to Montana. They first settled in Miles City, then moved to Billings, then Judith Basin. He was a contractor in freighting and ditching, and there's a big Rooney ditch above Utica, irrigating land on the south bench.

His Montana death index says he died in 1923, while his gravestone says is was 1922.
  Married ‎1875 Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota, age 29 or 30 years (married 10 or 11 years) to:
37 (18)
womanCatherine Sophia "Kate" Darcy‏
Born ‎1844 Ireland, died ‎11 May 1886 Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota‎, age 41 or 42 years
Kate was injured in an accident and returned to Minnesota, leaving her two children in Montana, and died after a lengthy illness.
generation VII (4th Great-Grandparents)

72 (36)
manPatrick Rooney‏
Born ‎2 Feb 1808 Ireland, died ‎9 Apr 1889 Bangor Township, Pope County, Minnesota Event Description: St. Anthony of Padua Cemetery, Stearns, Minnesota‎, age 81 years, buried Padua, Stearns County, Minnesota
Cause of death: Old age
  Married ‎± 1834 Ireland or Canada, age approximately 26 years (married approximately 35 years) to:
73 (36)
womanElenor "Ellen" Tracy‏
Born ‎1816 Ireland, died ‎25 Apr 1869 Padua, Stearns County, Minnesota Event Description: St. Anthony of Padua Cemetery, Padua, Stearns, MN‎, age 52 or 53 years
Ellen died of a stroke.

The "Tracy" name seems to disappear in the Gatineau valley after the 1861 census.
generation VIII (5th Great-Grandparents)

144 (72)
manMichael ""Daddy Mick"" Rooney‏
Born ‎1782 Ireland, died ‎12 Jan 1857 Wakefield Township, Outaouais, Quebec, Canada Event Description: St. Camillus Catholic Cemetery, Farrellton, Quebec, Canada, age 74‎, age 74 or 75 years, buried ‎Jan 1857 Farrellton, Outaouais, Quebec, Canada
Michael Rooney and Catherine Caulfield emigrated to Canada around 1845 (although there are land records showing Rooney's in the Canada farm census of 1841). In their 60's, they followed several of their grown children, the earliest who was in Canada by 1829. They settled in the Gatineau River region of Quebec, north of Ottawa, near the town of Farrelton (present day La Pêche).
The two oldest boys - Patrick (b. 1808) and Michael (b. 1809) - had their own farms in Canada. They also probably did some contract lumbering as this region was rich in lumber and this was the heyday of lumber being shipped by boat to Great Britain.

Michael and Catherine's grandson Thomas T. Rooney, son of John R. Rooney (1854-1925), was possibly a second cousin to his wife Ellen E Rooney (1872-1902). Her grandfather, John Rooney, would have been born at an age to be a brother to Daddy Mick. John's descendants coincidentally fit into the Michael and Catherine Rooney line when a granddaughter married married a Daddy Mick Rooney grandson.

As of 2017, it has been proven by finding DNA matches on Ancestry between the Padua Rooney branch and descendants of the Avon Rooney branch. However, the exact connection is still to be determined.

The Egan's and Rooney's intermarried eight times (all of the couples dying in Pope or Stearns County):

James Rooney (1848-1926)
Ann Egan (1846-1914)

Mary Ann Rooney (1865-1937)
Dennis Egan (1849->1910)

William Edward Rooney (1897-1980)
Mary Emily Egan (1897-1990). Mary was an orphan train adoptee, so not genetically an Egan or a Rooney, even though her "grandfather" was John R. Rooney. Also, her husband William Edward Rooney was one of the "Avon Rooney's." Though not genetically an Egan or a Rooney, even though her "great grandfather" was Michael Rooney on the Padua side, she married William Edward Rooney whose great grandfather was John Rooney the Avon side. Thus by prior relationship they were 3rd cousins, but unrelated by consanguinity.

Mary Rooney (1837-1905)
James Egan (1826-1912)

Eleanor Rooney (1842-1902)
Patrick Egan (1833-1892)

Elizabeth A Rooney (1866-1904) (first-cousin once-removed to her husband)
Thomas Edward Egan (1862-1928)

Martin Gannon (1848-1911) (son of Mary Egan and grandson of Thomas B Egan)
Catherine Kilroe (1859->1940) (granddaughter of Bridget Rooney and great granddaughter of Daddy Mick/Mammy Kitty Rooney)

Daniel Michael Rooney (1955-2014) was related to his wife, Karen Ann Majerus (1957-living): His great great grandparents were Michael and Catherine Rooney, while Karen's 4x great grandparents were Michael and Catherine. Thus, they were third cousins twice-removed. Also, Karen is an Egan descendent as well.

Including the three cousin marriages listed just above, there are these additional three:

In 1877, Sarah Margaret Tracy, daughter of Ann Rooney, married her first cousin, John J. Rooney, son of Patrick Rooney.

In 1888, Hugh M. Rooney married his first cousin, Winifred Sophia Rooney.

In about 1889, Thomas T. Rooney of the Padua Rooney branch married his second cousin, Ellen E. Rooney, of the Avon Rooney branch.


Randy Rooney says (May 2016):

"I have been in contact with my closest Y-DNA result match who has a genetic distance of 1 out of the 37 markers I had tested. His great grandfather, Patrick [Rooney] b. ~1845, was from Dundalk, County Louth , just south of County Down. Is it possible that we aren't finding Rooney's in the area of Parish Moore since Michael wasn't from that part of Ireland, but just started his family there because Catherine was from there? And if Michael didn't have strong family ties to the area, did that prompt their emigration from Ireland. It seems reasonable they lived near Parish Moore at one time if Thomas married Ellen Ward there, and Michael/Catherine are listed as being from Co. Galway on the Canadian marriage record of John Rooney/Mary McCool. However, what else is known about where they had lived prior to Canada? The more we learn, the more questions there seem to be…"

Earlier in his email Randy said: "Clonburren and Moore South graveyards, [the two others besides the Kilbegley Cemetery associated with the Parish of Moore in Roscommon], have been completed already [cleaning, reading and photographing old monuments], so you can see what Kilbegley eventually will include. I found the Moore South graveyard interesting since there were many Caulfield's, but no Rooney's."
Ten Caulfield's, to be exact.


July, 2017:

Looking at Geraldine Felling Walsh's Ancestry DNA pages. She and her siblings and several of her living first cousins are closer to the Rooney ancestors genetically than are any of the rest of us. There are a number of people related to her that have a Rooney in their family tree, but those Rooney's have no known connection to us. The furtherest ancestor any of them listed could be as close as a first cousin or a nephew or niece to "Daddy Mick." They appear so far to come from either Leitrim or Mayo in Ireland. Maybe they are from a "Leitrim" branch?
  Married/ Related to:
145 (72)
womanCatherine ""Mammy Kitty"; Catharine on gravestone" Caulfield‏
Born ‎1783 Ireland, died ‎17 Feb 1875 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota Event Description: Padua Cemetery, Stearns, Minnesota, age 91‎, age 91 or 92 years, buried Padua, Stearns County, Minnesota
After "Daddy Mick" died in 1857 and was buried in the Catholic cemetery in Farrelton, Mammie Kitty emigrated to the U.S.A. with eight of her nine grown children and their families. They came first to St. Anthony Falls, site the present-day Minneapolis, which was so small it could be covered in a half hour by horse and buggy. Later they moved to Stearns County, Raymond Township - a place at first called "Rooneys' Settlement, later called Padua, between 1865 and 1870.

Ambrose Rooney said that his father used to talk about "Grandma Kitty " and thought that there was something funny about her. Ambrose Gaffaney said his mother used to talk about a lady who smoked a pipe (Mary McCool, wife of John Rooney, smoked a pipe; Marilyn Rooney Lysen is now in possession of the pipe).