I guess there was something about the memorial (I don't really even know what that is) that he felt was undignified or in poor taste.

I don't think that could be it. I certainly hope not! Here's the memorial in question.

Here is a link that might be useful: FindAGrave memorial

Hmmm....seems like a regular kind of phrase found on gravestones. Maybe he's skeeved out by the idea of the dead meeting up in the hereafter? Perhaps he's visualizing corpses chasing after the recently deceased to get a hug? :)

Or maybe he's just a fruit-loop! Or maybe he's a troll hoping to get a rise out of you.

That's funny, Jewel. All of the above!

Actually, he included a lot of information on Minnie. I think he's serious about genealogy. I wonder if he could have meant to type "iffy." Of course, I still wouldn't know what it meant. LOL

I know zip about this stuff, but a quick reading suggests a tragic (icky?) tale.

If I'm reading it correctly, parents Richard and Minnie Tuttle lost their 6 month old son Ray in July of 1890. If that weren't enough, Richard died 6 months later, in February of 1891, at the age of 28. Poor Minnie's life changed dramatically in 6 months.

Ask the person what was "icky at best." If you said something which someone else did not understand, wouldn't you be glad to explain?

Looks, by the initials like the 3rd person in the grave, Ray, was the son of B.E. and Minnie.

Who was B.E. ???

.

Monica, it looks like a B, but it's an R. R.E. = Richard E.

Snidely, that could be it, I suppose. It's not a word I would use in this instance, but it's a possibility.

Susan, I'll mention it in my response. We'll see what he says.

Minnie, by the way, married again about five years later. Mr. Robacker died in 1919. I don't know if they had any children.

That is strange. I'd be tempted to reply to him and follow his lead......thank him for correcting the error and then add "Icky at best." Are you referring to my transcription? The tombstone? Care to elucidate?

I'd guess that you're correspondant is quite young, with limited vocabulary, or perhaps limited life/family experiences. 'Icky' seems like such a shallow word to use.

"Iffy at best" is a common phrase in my neck of the woods. "Icky at best" is a phrase I've never heard. My bet would be he meant "iffy".

Maybe he meant - tricky at best.

I'd agree with marita - I bet he meant "iffy" and maybe auto spell check "corrected" him....??

or "Picky at best"? In any case, I would dismiss it as a nervous comment, IYKWIM.

It's possible that the person communicating with you is a Brit or has current European experience. The word "icky" in their vocabulary takes on a more subtle meaning than we're used to...meaning in part... unpleasant or uncomfortable. Certainly, the grave site memorial info could easily be considered unpleasant...by our standards as well as the person commenting to you. Unpleasant taking on a sad connotation.

JMO

Anne

Perhaps he thinks they are all in a single grave -- a grave opened twice since the first internment? Perhaps he knows something unpleasant about the people or circumstances.

Here's his explanation--and I love it!

Icky at best refers to marrying a spouse who's been dead for 30 some years. My poor attempt at humor.

(The mistake I'd made involved the man's death date; I had him dying in 1831, not 1891.)

I told him his comment was very funny, and I'm surprised I didn't get it. All of you who responded might have gotten it if I'd explained about the mix-up of the dates.

LOL That's very funny...and timely! I needed a good laugh. Thanks!

Anne :-)

'Tis strange. Could he be referring to your typo. See below for a phrase that was copied from the Find-a-Grave post.

"At death she was the widwo of Henry H. Robacker... .

A "widwo", huh?

Per Minnie's death certificate:

Minnie Elizabeth Tuttle Robacker (nee Chapman) was born 21 January 1866 in Hollisterville, PA. She died 04 March 1931 in Scranton, PA. She was buried on 07 March 1931.

Minnie's father was E. B. Chapman, born in Connecticut. Her mother was Harriet Pollay, born in Hamlin, PA.

At the time of Minnie's death, she was the widow of Henry H. Robacker, born circa 1855. Henry died at the age of 64 on 05 August 1919 in Housedale, PA.

Oh! Now I get it. I was totally wondering.

If he was on a phone or tablet autocorrect could have done him in. iffy or tricky would both work in that phrase. I've looked up numerous times and a word I know I spelled has changed into only part of the word.

Chessey, see his explanation above.

Thanks, Lindsey! I was hoping she had other children after losing little Ray. I added the additional information to her memorial. I'm pretty sure they got the "Housedale" wrong, though. I'm not sure there is a Housedale, and Honesdale is in northeast PA.

Now you've got me itching to take more cemetery pics. Fortunately (because I have winter projects to attend to), the weather won't be conducive to this for several more months.

'Tis strange. Could he be referring to your typo. See below for a phrase that was copied from the Find-a-Grave post.
"At death she was the widwo of Henry H. Robacker... .

A "widwo", huh?

No, he could not, Jemdandy, because I wrote that later, from information he gave me, and my typo has since been corrected. Plus additional data from Lindsey has been added.

I posted the gentleman's explanation above.

When I read it....I got the thought that they were brother and sister....maybe he thought that too....and thought it was icky..?..ya think

Hi Patti! I guess I'll have to post his explanation again, as several have missed it. Here's what I wrote above:

Here's his explanation--and I love it!

Icky at best refers to marrying a spouse who's been dead for 30 some years. My poor attempt at humor.

(The mistake I'd made involved the man's death date; I had him dying in 1831, not 1891.)

I told him his comment was very funny, and I'm surprised I didn't get it. All of you who responded might have gotten it if I'd explained about the mix-up of the dates.

Alisande, you are correct. Henry died in Honesdale. My typo to have put Housedale. Sorry!

You can see why genealogy is so TRICKY! It becomes like the children's game of "Telephone", where you whisper something to your neighbor and it goes around a circle...coming out as something only remotely connected to the original sentence.

Alisande, I didn't find any more death certificates for Tuttle children born to Minnie, but I did find two for children born to Minnie and Henry Robacker.

Ray N, Robacker, born 01 January 1897 in Sterling, PA; died 27 July 1963 in Dreher Township. He was buried on 30 July 1963 in the Pine Grove Cemetery in South Sterling. Ray was married to Abbie Chapman Robacker.

Francis E. Robacker was born 01 July 1908 in Sterling, PA and died on 28 May 1955 in Scranton. He was buried in 01 June 1955 In Sabington Township. He was married at the time of his death, buis widow signed as "Mrs. Francis Robacker," so I don't have her first name