Re: Need help finding a surname/OBIT? Lylan Thomas d. 14 Oct 1969 Oakland, CA

[Genealiza]

I need some more eyes on this subject.  WHO WAS LYLAN L  THOMAS

I am looking for the surname of James Hiram Thomas' 2nd wife.  I have all the information I need on his family and that of his 1st wife, but am stuck trying to find LYLAN'S maiden name or the name of her former (?) husband. 

James' 1st wife was LYLA and they divorced in California between 1930 and 1940.  James is single with the children in 1940, so he and LYLAN probably married between 1940 and 1950.  I emailed the cemetery for any information on her, but all they did was confirm the burial location, which I had included on my request.  I waited 6 weeks for that tidbit of redundant information, so that was a waste of time.

I have found a Mrs. LYLAN Lovell in the SF city directories for 1934/35 which states she may be working at Fort Bragg as a clerk, but haven't been able to find her before or after those years.  She is also referred to as Mrs. LYLAN L Thomas in the obit of James H Thomas and as the administratrix of his estate.

There is an obit for her sister, Mrs. Grace Hobson (b ~1889 possibly NY--d. 7 Dec 1963, Santa Cruz), the most recent wife of Thomas Robert Hobson Sr., a butcher from Ukiah.  The obit mentions her husband, his 3 adult children and her sister, Mrs. LYLAN Thomas and states inurnment was in the IOOF cemetery, aka Santa Cruz Memorial Park.
FAG memorial of Thomas R Hobson:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146657468/thomas-robert-hobson

I haven't been able to find the marriage of James and Lylan, nor the marriage of Grace and Thos Hobson, which might lead to their actual surname.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions on trying to solve this question.


James Hiram Thomas FAG memorial
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149955735/james-hiram-thomas

Lylan L Thomas FAG memorial
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167333744/lylan-thomas

[PaulineJ]

Was james wed in the 1930 census?
Wherabouts was he at that time?

What's the 1940 census detail. California's a BIG place

[Genealiza]

Thanks for your interest.

Yes, he, Lyla and the 3 children were in Alameda.  There had immigrated from Saskatchewan in 1923, however, both he and Lyla were born in the U.S.  James remained in the Bay area but Lyla is in LA in the 1940 census and she eventually shows up in NY.   I have all of her information.  I'm looking for the maiden name of his 2nd wife, LYLAN L ??

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149955735/james-hiram-thomas

1940 census:  the son is probably in the military, but James is with his 2 daughters:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9QM-2L4

He states his is a widow, but that is wrong. 

Here is the 1940 census of LYLAN LOVELL:  widow, b. 1895, MASSACHUSETTS
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9WB-GP8

[softly softly]

? Possibly Lyla


https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95613186/lyla-statham-mitchell

John

[softly softly]

The attached link is for the burial details of Franklin Durst. I have attached this as it mentions a son William LEE Durst. The 1930 us census records a daughter for James & Lyla Thomas,a Margaret Lee Thomas?

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95612920/franklin-statham-durst

John

[josey]

Well found, johnhood; but the FAG contributor for your links has a name very similar to OP, so it may be the same person.

[softly softly]

Josey, think you are correct on that, and probably wrote the info upon reflection. Seems rather strange that if Lyla was his first wife and very similar first name of Lylan as second wife. I may have had a scotch to many tonight.

John

[Genealiza]

You're right.  I do have all that information.  His two wives were, LYLA Durst and LYLAN L   Some online trees don't make a difference between LYLA and LYLAN, but LYLA doesn't have a sister named GRACE and she marries 2nd, PARKER MITCHELL.  All of this is linked on the FAG website.  I have all the background information, just not the maiden or possible married name of LYLAN.

[RJ137]

I have found a Mrs. LYLAN Lovell in the SF city directories for 1934/35 which states she may be working at Fort Bragg as a clerk, but haven't been able to find her before or after those years.  She is also referred to as Mrs. LYLAN L Thomas in the obit of James H Thomas and as the administratrix of his estate.

There is an obit for her sister, Mrs. Grace Hobson (b ~1889 possibly NY--d. 7 Dec 1963, Santa Cruz), the most recent wife of Thomas Robert Hobson Sr., a butcher from Ukiah.  The obit mentions her husband, his 3 adult children and her sister, Mrs. LYLAN Thomas and states inurnment was in the IOOF cemetery, aka Santa Cruz Memorial Park.
FAG memorial of Thomas R Hobson:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146657468/thomas-robert-hobson

I see several clippings mentioning her as a clerk in the Ukiah & Mendocino papers from 1936-1946.  The clipping below indicates she has a sister in San Francisco.

Mendocino Coast Beacon
Mendocino, California
Saturday, May 8, 1943
Page: 4

Mrs. Lylan Lovell of Noyo Lodge 1 was called to San Francisco Saturday on account of the serious illness of her sister, who was to undergo a major operation.

===

This appears to be her in the 1940 census. It states she was born about 1895 in Massachusetts and is a widow.

1940 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9WB-GP8