Bertha Mae Morris Hillis, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Morris was, born in Hennessey, Oklahoma,. Bertha grew up in the Oklahoma Territory pioneered by her parents while seeing Oklahoma become a State in 1906 and her Father pass away that same year. She then went to Whichita, Kansas to attend Mt. Carmel Academy, where she developed her interest in music and piano , where she graduated as a member of the Class of 1909.
With her Mother and two brothers she moved to Montrose, Colorado and worked in a Millinary store where she met and married Francis Hillis. During the Great Depression, with two children, Bertha and Francis left for California where they settled in Lynwood, California and raised their family as she worked with her husband in their home orange juice business. After her children were grown, Bertha, worked in an aircraft factory in the Los Angeles area, during WW II and with her husband, was co-owner to F.M. Hillis Stables, developing a Horse Racing business that lasted until 1967, more than 25 years. In that quarter century, the Hillis' traveled extensively, making their home in San Diego's suburbs and racing their horses at Caliente, Tijuana, Baja, Mexico, across the border.
From here they raced their horses at Bay Meaodws in San Francisco, Longacres in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada; traveling the West Coast and racing at tracks thru-out the Pacific region States, including Portland, Oregon, Sacramento, Galt, Stockton and Fresno, California. Bertha and Francis took their Racing Stable into the Midwest and East as well, racing Thistledown in Ohio and others.
A lifetime of travel and residence in the West; beloved Mother and Grandmother, Bertha left her family a legacy of life, travel, and experiences having lived thru the Great Depression of the 1930s and WW II in the 1940s, showing women could own businesses as they raised families.
With her Mother and two brothers she moved to Montrose, Colorado and worked in a Millinary store where she met and married Francis Hillis. During the Great Depression, with two children, Bertha and Francis left for California where they settled in Lynwood, California and raised their family as she worked with her husband in their home orange juice business. After her children were grown, Bertha, worked in an aircraft factory in the Los Angeles area, during WW II and with her husband, was co-owner to F.M. Hillis Stables, developing a Horse Racing business that lasted until 1967, more than 25 years. In that quarter century, the Hillis' traveled extensively, making their home in San Diego's suburbs and racing their horses at Caliente, Tijuana, Baja, Mexico, across the border.
From here they raced their horses at Bay Meaodws in San Francisco, Longacres in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada; traveling the West Coast and racing at tracks thru-out the Pacific region States, including Portland, Oregon, Sacramento, Galt, Stockton and Fresno, California. Bertha and Francis took their Racing Stable into the Midwest and East as well, racing Thistledown in Ohio and others.
A lifetime of travel and residence in the West; beloved Mother and Grandmother, Bertha left her family a legacy of life, travel, and experiences having lived thru the Great Depression of the 1930s and WW II in the 1940s, showing women could own businesses as they raised families.
Bertha Mae Morris Hillis, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Morris was, born in Hennessey, Oklahoma,. Bertha grew up in the Oklahoma Territory pioneered by her parents while seeing Oklahoma become a State in 1906 and her Father pass away that same year. She then went to Whichita, Kansas to attend Mt. Carmel Academy, where she developed her interest in music and piano , where she graduated as a member of the Class of 1909.
With her Mother and two brothers she moved to Montrose, Colorado and worked in a Millinary store where she met and married Francis Hillis. During the Great Depression, with two children, Bertha and Francis left for California where they settled in Lynwood, California and raised their family as she worked with her husband in their home orange juice business. After her children were grown, Bertha, worked in an aircraft factory in the Los Angeles area, during WW II and with her husband, was co-owner to F.M. Hillis Stables, developing a Horse Racing business that lasted until 1967, more than 25 years. In that quarter century, the Hillis' traveled extensively, making their home in San Diego's suburbs and racing their horses at Caliente, Tijuana, Baja, Mexico, across the border.
From here they raced their horses at Bay Meaodws in San Francisco, Longacres in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada; traveling the West Coast and racing at tracks thru-out the Pacific region States, including Portland, Oregon, Sacramento, Galt, Stockton and Fresno, California. Bertha and Francis took their Racing Stable into the Midwest and East as well, racing Thistledown in Ohio and others.
A lifetime of travel and residence in the West; beloved Mother and Grandmother, Bertha left her family a legacy of life, travel, and experiences having lived thru the Great Depression of the 1930s and WW II in the 1940s, showing women could own businesses as they raised families.
With her Mother and two brothers she moved to Montrose, Colorado and worked in a Millinary store where she met and married Francis Hillis. During the Great Depression, with two children, Bertha and Francis left for California where they settled in Lynwood, California and raised their family as she worked with her husband in their home orange juice business. After her children were grown, Bertha, worked in an aircraft factory in the Los Angeles area, during WW II and with her husband, was co-owner to F.M. Hillis Stables, developing a Horse Racing business that lasted until 1967, more than 25 years. In that quarter century, the Hillis' traveled extensively, making their home in San Diego's suburbs and racing their horses at Caliente, Tijuana, Baja, Mexico, across the border.
From here they raced their horses at Bay Meaodws in San Francisco, Longacres in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada; traveling the West Coast and racing at tracks thru-out the Pacific region States, including Portland, Oregon, Sacramento, Galt, Stockton and Fresno, California. Bertha and Francis took their Racing Stable into the Midwest and East as well, racing Thistledown in Ohio and others.
A lifetime of travel and residence in the West; beloved Mother and Grandmother, Bertha left her family a legacy of life, travel, and experiences having lived thru the Great Depression of the 1930s and WW II in the 1940s, showing women could own businesses as they raised families.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
