Manion v. Cofer

PALMORE, Judge.

Faye Manion, stepmother of Shelby Dean Manion, a 9-year-old girl, appeals from a judgment transferring custody of the child to its mother, Virginia Cofer (formerly Manion). For convenience we shall call the parties by their first names.

Shelby Dean is the daughter of Virginia and the late James Manion. Virginia obtained a divorce from James in 1965, after which he married Faye and she married a man named Cofer. James was accidentally drowned in 1969, and Faye is now an unmarried widow. Virginia resides with her husband, Cofer, in New Albany, Indiana.

At the time of their divorce…