52 Ancestors: Lillie Lutitia Hoard (1910-1963)

Lillie Hoard (R) and Maydian Balentine (L) (I'm not sure who her friend is, but someday maybe I'll find out who she was. They look so close, and this is why I love this photo. It reminds me of my best friend.)

Lillie Lutitia Hoard's life story spans from the early 20th century in rural Arkansas to mid-century California, reflecting the significant westward migration many American families experienced during this era. Born on October 31, 1910, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Lillie's journey took her through Oklahoma and eventually to California, where she spent her final years.

Early Life in Arkansas

Lillie was born to Thomas Miller Hoard (1867-1936) and Martha Ellen McCombs (1870-1946). The 1910 and 1920 census records place the Hoard family in Dickson, Benton County, Arkansas, where Lillie spent her childhood. Interestingly, the 1920 census lists her as "Mary L. Hoard," suggesting she may have been known by different names throughout her life, a common occurrence in genealogical research. However, I believe it was more likely a mistake by the census taker as I've never seen "Mary" used in any other record.

Move to Oklahoma

By 1930, the Hoard family lived in Hominy, Osage County, Oklahoma, with 20-year-old Lillie listed as a servant. They are living at 211 N. Pettit Street. Pettit Street. The family remained in Hominy throughout the 1930s, and it was here that Lillie married Martin Hayes, who was sometimes recorded as "General Martin Hayes" (1907-1960).

Lillie and Martin started their family in Oklahoma, welcoming daughter Mary Ellen Hayes (1931-1993), son James T. "Jim" Hays (1934-1970), and son David M. Hayes (1939-1992). The 1940 census shows 29-year-old Lillie living in her mother Ellen Hoard's household in Hominy, along with her husband and children.

Oklahoma to California

The Hayes family relocated to California in the early 1940s, with Lillie's obituary noting that they moved to Turlock in 1941. This migration mirrors the pattern of many families who moved westward during and after the Great Depression to seek new opportunities.

By 1948, Lillie was active in her community, participating in Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) activities in Modesto, California. City directories track the family's residences in Modesto throughout the 1950s, showing them at "rear 123 H" in 1950 and later at "015 Columbia" by 1957-1958.

Loss and Legacy

Lillie had experienced the loss of her father in 1936 and her mother in 1946. Her husband, Martin, preceded her in death, passing away on December 17, 1960, in Turlock, California.

Lillie Hayes died on January 6, 1963, at age 52 in a Modesto hospital following an extended illness. At 51 years old myself, I now realize more poignantly how short her life really was. Her funeral services took place at Allen Mortuary, and she was laid to rest in Turlock, Stanislaus County, California.

At the time of her death, Lillie's three children—daughter Mary Ellen Roe of Modesto and sons James of Modesto and David of Turlock—survived. She also left behind three brothers (Ernest Hoard of Lake Tahoe, Frank Hoard of Hayward, and Roy Hoard of Oklahoma), two sisters (Celestria Brown of Oklahoma and Marie Hoard of Kansas), and eleven grandchildren.

Lillie’s life, spanning just 52 years, reflects the mobility and resilience of American families in the mid-20th century. Her legacy lives on through her descendants and serves as a window into an important period of American migration and family history.

Sources

1. "1910 United States Federal Census," Year: 1910; Census Place: Dickson, Benton, Arkansas; Roll: T624_44; Page: 2b; Enumeration District: 0018; FHL microfilm: 1374057, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/35166455, accessed 3 April 2025.

2. "1920 United States Federal Census," Year: 1920; Census Place: Dickson, Benton, Arkansas; Roll: T625_54; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 18, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/35166454, accessed 3 April 2025.

3. "1930 United States Federal Census," Year: 1930; Census Place: Hominy, Osage, Oklahoma; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0023; FHL microfilm: 2341657, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/35166450, accessed 3 April 2025.

4. "1940 United States Federal Census," Year: 1940; Census Place: Hominy, Osage, Oklahoma; Roll: m-t0627-03320; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 57-24, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/35166453, accessed 3 April 2025.

5. "Oklahoma, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current," The Hominy News; Publication Date: 4 Mar 1938; Publication Place: Hominy, Oklahoma, USA, Ancestry.com, accessed 3 April 2025.

6. "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," Modesto, California, City Directory, 1950, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/35166451, accessed 3 April 2025.

7. "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," Modesto, California, City Directory, 1957, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/35166458, accessed 3 April 2025.

8. "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," Modesto, California, City Directory, 1958, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/35166457, accessed 3 April 2025.

9. "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current," The Modesto Bee and News-Herald; Publication Date: 18 Dec 1960; Publication Place: Modesto, California, USA, Ancestry.com, accessed 3 April 2025.

10. "California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997," Place: Stanislaus; Date: 6 Jan 1963, Ancestry.com, accessed 3 April 2025.

11. "Web: California, Find A Grave Index, 1775-2012," Ancestry.com, accessed 3 April 2025.

12. "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947," National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards For Oklahoma, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 216, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/35166449, accessed 3 April 2025.

13. "Lillie Hayes, 52, Dies In Hospital," newspaper obituary (undated), containing details of death on January 6, 1963, in a Modesto hospital, survivors, and migration history.