Lillie Hatfield Smith

Lillie

Lillian Victoria Hatfield Smith was the older sister to my great-grandmother, Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson.  During the last few years of her life, Lillie lived with her sister, Pearl, in Pearl's small house in Cortez, Colorado.   I would often walk with my Grandma Maymie from her house across town to visit with her mother Pearl and her Aunt Lillie. I remember that Lillie was taller than my great-grandmother.  Lillie was always nice,  and she must have worn a floral perfume because she smelled like flowers. 

Ray and Lillie Smith

Lillian Victoria Hatfield was born 9 April 1884 in Jewell County, Kansas.  She was the third child and first daughter born to Martin and Nancy (McNeil) Hatfield.  When Lillie was about 14 years old the family moved to Oklahoma.  Her father, Martin Monroe Hatfield, homesteaded land in Woods County, Oklahoma. 

Wedding Photo for Lillie and Ray

Lillie married Ray Ruggles Smith on 7 Jun 1905 in Alva, Woods, Oklahoma.  Lilly was 21 years old and Ray was 26 years old.  Their wedding photo is shown above and Lillie's record of their marriage from her family bible is shown below.  The only witness is Myrtle Hatfield, wife of her brother John.

Lillie's Baby

By 1910, the Smith's had moved to Sidney, Nebraska.  Three years later, their son Ray Douglas Smith was born in Sidney on Thursday, 4 Sep 1913, at 6 o’clock pm.   The only record that I have been able to find for Lillie's son is a bible record and a notation inside a photo album. 

Ray Douglas Smith - 4 months

It is not known how long little Ray lived, but there are no photos of him except for the two baby pictures shown here.  I have been unsuccessful in finding a record of his death or where he was buried.  But, I do remember Lillie showing me these pictures of her son.  At the time it made me sad to think she lost her little baby boy - maybe because she was sad when she told me about him.  I'm not sure why Lillie did not make a record his death.  Perhaps, she could not bring herself to think about it.  

Lillie and little Ray

In 1918,  when Ray registered for the WWI draft, he and Lillie were living in Malta, Phillips County, Montana.  Ray stated that his occupation was in Real Estate and that his next of kin was his wife, Mrs. Lillie V. Smith.  Ray was 39 years old and his physical description was tall, stout build, blue eyes, and dark hair.

Move to Florida

The Smith family cannot not be found in the 1920 census, so it is not known where Ray and Lillie were living at that time.  By 1929, Ray and Lillie were listed in the city directory of Miami, Florida.  In the 1930 census, Ray and Lillie were living in Hialeah, Dade County, Florida.  Lillie gave her occupation as a dress maker in dress factory.  In the photo below, Lillie is seated at the sewing machine in the back (3rd from left).  Not sure if this is part of the dress factory or not? 

Lillie Smith working as a dress maker.

In the 1932 city directory for Miami, Ray’s occupation is listed as a clerk for the law firm Jarrell, Brooks, and Rogers.  But, in the 1940 census, Ray’s occupation is real estate.  Below is a photo of Ray working at his desk in his real estate office. 

Ray Smith sitting at his desk in his real estate office.

Ray and Lillie Smith

 Ray died in March 1956 in Dade County, Florida.  After the death of her husband, Lillie moved to Cortez, Colorado and lived with her sister, Pearl.  Lillie made a notation in her bible that stated she "arrived in Cortez, Colorado from Miami on June 27, 1956."

The photo below is of Lillie, her mother Nancy, and her sister Pearl.  Since Nancy died in 1946, Lillie must have made the trip out to see her mother prior to that time.

Pearl, Nancy, Lillie

Lillie died on 20 July 1959 in Cortez.  She is buried next to her brother, Charles, in the Dove Creek Cemetery in Dove Creek, Colorado. 

To view Lillie's Find-A-Grave memorial page: click here.


Since Lillie had no living descendants, Maymie ended up with the few photos that told Lillie's story.  Eventually, I ended up with the photos and some memories, and knew they needed to be shared.