Russell Family Update

One of the byproducts of requesting a photo of a grave site on Find A Grave (FAG) is that the volunteer who fulfills your request frequently will take and post additional photographs. Thus it was when I requested a grave site photo for Lucy Jane (Booth) Russell.

As it so happens, the Russell memorial has a double stone and the volunteer (Sarah Carter) posted the information for Thad Allma Russell...notice the middle name change from Allan to Allma. The bonus? The grave stone includes a marriage date, which means yet another piece of paper to chase.

Getting corrections like Thad's middle name (or at least a new fact like a marriage date to ponder) is another benefit to supporting and participating in FAG. Anyway, for anyone searching for Thad Allma Russell, you can find him at Tuscola Cemetery, Tuscola, Taylor County, Texas. His FAG memorial is  87398568.

Now the fun part. I've found a newspaper article indicating that Lucy and Thad were divorced. Here it is.


The Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, 22 Jun 1962, Page 36
Thad A. Russell v. Lucy J. Russell, plaintiff granted divorce. 

And yet, they have a double stone and are buried as man and wife with nary a mention of a divorce.

So what's the story? Did they reconcile? Did they remarry? Do you know? Will you tell? 

Virgie Evelyn (Hillis) Norman 1916-1944, Missouri, Arkansas

While I've been working on the Murphy line, I've still been sending off for obits at the The State Historical Society of Missouri. I recently received the following obituary, which lead me to the information on Virgie's siblings.

Dexter Messenger, Dexter, Missouri, 6 Jan 1944, Page 1, Column 3

Mrs. Curtis Norman

Evelyn Hillis, was born March 14, 1916 at Williamsville, Mo. and passed away at a Poplar Bluff hospital Thursday at 12:10 A.M. following an operation the preceding day.

On Oct. 18, 1938 she was united in marriage to Curtis Norman in Pocahontas Arkansas. To this union were born two daughters, Judith Ann, 4 and Rebecca Janet aged 2 years, who with her campanion survived her. She also leaves her parents Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Hillis, of Dexter, two sisters Mrs. Agnes Thompson and Mrs. Edna Hobgood both of Morehouse, Mo. and one brother Asa Hillis who is a Lieut. in the U. S. Services somewhere in England.

Mrs. Norman was a member of the Pentecost church, a true companion and loving mother.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. Claude E. Maples officiating. Interment in Dexter cemetery.

Here are the details I have for Virgie's family:

William Roy Hillis

b. 3 Nov 1892 Williamsville, Wayne County, Missouri

d. 1964 (FAG 21661032)

m. 30 Jun 1912 Williamsville, Wayne County, Missouri

Julie Ann McKee

b. Jan 1895 Missouri

d. 1972 (FAG 21661015)

Child 1: Agnes M. Hillis (died as Mrs. Conliff Blankenship)

b. 29 May 1913 Williamsville, Wayne County, Missouri

d. 2 May 2002, Cahokia, Saint Clair County, Illinois (FAG 32563482)

m. When? Where?

Joseph E. Thompson

b. 21 Nov 1911 Missouri

d. 13 Jan 1978 Benton, Scott County, Missouri (FAG 44648172)

Child 2: Virgie Evelyn Hillis

b. 14 Mar 1916 Williamsville, Wayne County, Missouri 

d. 6 Jan 1944 Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Missouri (FAG 17689115)

m. 18 Oct 1938 Pocahontas, Randolph County, Arkansas

Curtis Clyde Norman

b. 9 Oct 1899 Liberty, Stoddard County, Missouri

d. 20 Oct 1979 Dexter, Stoddard County, Missouri (FAG 17689139)

Child 3: Willie Edna Hillis (died as Mrs. George H. Troxell)

b. 11 Feb 1919 Missouri

d. 25 Nov 2008 Dunnellon, Marion County, Florida

m. 15 May 1939 Dexter, Stoddard County, Missouri

Charles T. Hobgood

b. 20 Sep 1917 Missouri

d. Aug 1967 Dexter Stoddard County, Missouri

Child 4: Asa Norman Hillis 

b. 8 Nov 1921 Missouri

d. 1 May 1995 Pasadena, Harris County, Texas

m. When? Where?

Mary Ethel Everett

b. 9 Nov 1923 Where?

d. 21 May 1991 Florida

As always, if you're working on this family, I'm happy to hear from you and to trade info. Just post to this blog.