Needles in the Haystack: Lillian Losee Smith

Lillian Losee was the daughter of Mae Evelyn (Boyer) and George Losee. She was born on February 25, 1905. When she was nine years old, she found her mother slumped over the clothes basket while trying to hanging out laundry. Mae Evelyn Losee died leaving 6 young children in 1914. Mae Evelyn's mother, Mary Florence Boyer, would raise Lillian(8 years old) , Wallace (7 years old), Florence (2 years old) and Ernest (1 years old) in her home in Flint on Baker Street. Lester remained with his father on the farm. As Wallace and Ernest became older, they would return to the farm to live too. I learned through my research that in 1914, it was illegal for a father to raise adolescent daughters. I always wondered why Lillian was raised by Mary Florence while the brothers were raised by their father on the farm.

The Boyer at the Clio home of Austin and Mary Florence (White) Boyer in about 1907

This photo was taken before Austin died in 1908. It is of Austin and his siblings and their families. Mae Evelyn is standing to the left of Austin at the top of the steps on the porch. She is holding Wallace Austin, Lillian is stand on the step next to her and Lester is on the step below her. This is the earliest photo that I have of Lillian.

Lester Losee, Austin Rex Boyer and Lillian Losee

I have several school photos that Lillian had saved from her school years. This first was taken in first or second grade before her mother died. The condition of the photo is pretty bad with some of the students not recognizable but she is identified clearly along with her brother and her Uncle Rex who was born the same year that she was. They are identified with the arrow makings in ink. Lester is two from the left with Rex seated next to him in the third spot. Lillian is in the third row seven from the left standing.

Lester and Lillian - Doyle Street School

The second one was taken after her mother died while she was living with her Grandmother, Mary Florence. It is a grade school photo of Lillian and Lester at the Doyle Street school in Flint. Lillian is 6 from the left standing in the second row. Lester is seated in the front row 6 from the left. I am not sure what grade this would be.

This is a preteen photo of Lillian likely taken about 1916 or 1917. She would have been living in Flint with her Grandmother at this time. I think it is so adorable. Her way of being stylish as a teenager. This is a side I never knew of my Grandmother. Being the wife of a Methodist Minister, Grandma was always dressed in a conservative dress. I never saw her in a pair of slacks. In the years that I knew her she was faithfully taking care of her husband who was wheelchair bound due to Multiple Sclerosis.

This photo is of Lillian's ninth grade class at Dort School in Flint. Lillian is the girl furthest to the right in the first row of standing students. She and Everett Smith met at an revival meeting around 1921 or 1922. I found this lovely Valentine in Grandma and Grandpa stuff.

Valentine from Everett

Everett's signature

Lillian's address at her Grandmother's in Flint

A Valentine sent to Lillian Losee by Everett Smith on February 14, 1923. This may have been about the time that they were engaged.

Lillian Losee - February 25,1923

This is a photo of Lillian on her 18th birthday on February 25, 1923. They had a birthday/ engagement party for her at Bessie Caulkin's house. Bessie was Lillian's best friend in 1923.