GRAFFORD, CHARLES W. AND LILLABELLE (TAYLOR)

by Phyllis Dianne Biggs

Entry F167 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Grafford Family May 31, 1975, L-R Front, Lillabelle; Charles W.,
Middle - Phyllis Dianne Biggs; Sue Ann George; Nora Jane Deaver;
Back, Arnold M., Thomas A., John E.

Charles Woodrow Grafford was born May
17, 1919 in Gunnison, Colorado, and spent
most of his childhood in the Whitman area.
He graduated from Whitman High School in
1939.

Lillabelle Taylor was born in Bingham on
September 8, 1927, and attended Bingham
schools.

They were united in marriage February 10,
1945, in Alliance, Nebraska. In October of
1951, they moved to the Maude Henderson
ranch north of Mullen. They lived there until
the spring of 1953, then moved to Merriman
and Whitman until the fall of 1957 when they
returned to the Maude Henderson ranch. In
1959, Charles began working for the J.L.
Snyder Cattle Co. of Whitman while the
family lived in Mullen to attend school. On
June 13, 1968, the family moved to Ogallala,
Nebraska. Charles worked for a cement
company until his death December 20, 1976.
Lillabelle continued to reside in Ogallala
until her death on January 15, 1986. Now
they are at rest n the Ogallala Cemetery.

Seven children were born to this marriage:

Arnold Martin was born 1945, in
Alliance, Nebraska. He graduated from Mul-
len High School in 1963. On September 1,
1971, he married Helen Hammond of Ogalla-
la and they have two children, Ryan and
Megan. He is involved in ranching in the
Ashby area.

Phyllis Dianne was born 1947,
in Alliance, Nebraska. She graduated from
Mullen High School in 1965. On June 16,
1978, she married Paul Biggs of Grant,
Nebraska. They have three daughters, Kristi,
Rona, and Elaine. She works for the Ogallala
school system and Paul works at Good-All
Electric in Ogallala.

Thomas Alan was born 1950, in
Alliance, Nebraska and graduated from
Mullen High School in 1968. He married
Kathryn Willey of Keystone on May 31, 1975.
Tom is a rural mail carrier from Keystone to
Arthur and Kathy is a teacher in the Keys-
tone school. They have two sons, Tyrel and
Logan.

Sue Ann was born in Mullen
1953 and attended Mullen schools, gradu-
ating from Ogallala in 1971. She married
David George of Alabama on February 16,
1973, and now resides in McCalla, Alabama.
She works as a teacher's aide and David is a
fingerprint expert for the Bessemer Police
Department. They have two children, Ra-
chael and Matthew.

John Edward was born
1954, in Martin, South Dakota, and graduat-
ed from Ogallala in 1972. He married Patsie
Kemerling of Hyannis on October 24, 1980.
They have one son, Jason,and are expecting
a second child in February. John works for a
construction company in Ogallala.

Nora Jane was born 1960, in
Mullen and graduated from Ogallala in 1978.
On January 20, 1979, she married Steve
Deaver of Grant. They operate a dairy farm
and have three children, Charles, Sara and
Nicholas.

Charles and Lillabelle's seventh child died
at birth on July 22, 1963. She is buried in the
Mullen cemetery.