Kathryn Lea was the eldest daughter of Berton Vorce and Vena Bertha (Clarke) Cole, the fourth of seven living children. She was named for her grandmother Martha Louisa Lea. Though the family lived in Shenandoah, Iowa, she was born in Arkansas. Her mother traveled to Arkansas to have the assistance of her brother-in-law, Dr. Charles Perkins, to help with the birth. She was born at the Perkins home.
**It was originally thought that Kathryn was born in Rogers, Arkansas as that is what she put on her original Social Security application. At the time of her birth, Arkansas was not requiring birth certs and even today there is no way to obtain a delayed birth cert for 1909, so that application was the only documented source for the town where she was born. New information from researching Charles and Edith Perkins shows without a doubt that in 1909 they were living at their home just outside Springdale, Arkansas that they had named "Dancing Rabbit Foot Lodge." This is where Kathryn was born. It was a very lavish home that Dr. Perkins had built in 1908. It is still standing and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It can be assumed, since Kathryn's mother died when Kathryn was age 13, and not having a birth cert to rely on, she went from memory as to her birth location. She knew she was born in Arkansas, and she knew Charles and Edith lived in Rogers, Ark. at the time her mother died in 1923, so Kathryn probably assumed they were living in Rogers at the time she was born too.
Berton Vorce was adopted by James and Anna Cole when he was nine years old. They were quite wealthy with no children of their own. When James Cole died in 1904, Berton inherited everything and it completely changed him. He began drinking, gambling and womanizing. He had inherited a nice home in Shenandoah, and a large cattle ranch outside of town. He lost everything. The family moved from Shenandoah, Iowa, to Michigan sometime between 1913 to 1916. Sister Helen was born In Battle Creek, Michigan in May 1916. In August 1918 Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came for a visit. At that time the Coles were living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The following month, Berton moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job with the Santa Fe Railroad. The Risteens lived in Williams and Harry was a longtime employee of the Santa Fe, so it can be surmised the Risteens talked Berton into this move and Harry helped him get the job. Vena and the children moved to Williams in October 1918.
Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. At first he went there alone, living in a converted boxcar. Vena and the children stayed in Williams, probably with the Risteens. For some reason, in January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton in that small, cold boxcar. Kathryn's brother Harry was born in the boxcar in April 1919. By September, Berton had quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. He had found a job in town as a bookkeeper. For whatever reason, that only lasted one month, then he went back to work for the Santa Fe, but in the freight depot in Williams. The family moved into a small bungalow. In October 1922 they were able to buy a home on the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
Vena died suddenly in January 1923. The Risteens, who were now living in Fresno, California, offered to take in the three youngest children - Helen, Harry and Virginia (Ginger). It must have been a horrible time for Vena's children, not only to lose their mother, but to be separated. Because both Harry Risteen and Berton Cole worked for the Santa Fe, they were able to get free passes to ride the trains. There were many trips made between Fresno and Williams over the next several years so the siblings could visit. The older ones stayed in Williams with Berton and got very involved in the community as they got older.
Kathryn joined the high school girl's basketball team. She played on the team all four years and was the captain of the freshman team. Her senior year the team was named the Northern Arizona championship team.
Kathryn worked in the Sultana Theater in Williams, playing the piano during the showing of the silent movies, and singing during intermission. She had inherited her parents talent for singing.
In 1925 Kathryn joined the Williams Camp Fire Girls, going on camping trips with them. One time brother Richard went along, supposedly to be there in case of snakes. In 1925 Kathryn also joined the high school yearbook staff.
From 1923 to 1926 Kathryn was very involved with singing in public. She would sing solos at Women's Club programs and meetings, at church, at minstrel shows, and musicals at the Sultana Theater. She sang for a Salvation Army benefit and a Boy Scout benefit. She also sang duets with brother Richard. Kathryn also enjoyed acting in plays and doing skits in minstrel shows. In her freshman year she had a part in "Prince Charming". By her senior year she was playing leading roles. After graduation she continued to have leading roles on stage at the Sultana Theater and was touted as giving wonderful performances.
Kathryn graduated Williams High School in June 1926. She moved to Texas to be with her father who had moved there in April. It is unknown how long she was there, but by July 1929 she was back in Williams performing on stage.
Kathryn moved to Los Angeles, California at some point before 1932, attending Chapman College for one year. She then worked in the Chapman Park Hotel, in charge of the dining room, and also played the piano there. The college and the hotel were owned by her mother's first cousin, C. C. Chapman. While working at the hotel she met many movie stars.
It is unknown why she stopped working at the hotel, because she loved meeting the movie stars, but she got a job as a clerk at a gas company in Los Angeles. This is where she met Joseph Harrington Curd, who also worked there. Kathryn married Joseph Harrington Curd on October 31, 1931 in Santa Ana, California. They had three children: Ronald Arthur; Vena Diane; Michael Dennis. After her first son was born, she took some classes and became a head custodian, first at the St. Aloysius Catholic School in Los Angeles, then later for public schools in Los Angeles County. One day while working, up on a ladder cleaning windows, she was hit in the back very hard with a ball. Afterwards, she suffered from bad back problems and had to quit working as a custodian. She and her husband moved from Los Angeles to San Pedro about 1965. Her husband passed away in 1988. After that, she moved to Las Vegas to be closer to her sons.
Kathryn was a very devout Catholic, but couldn't always go to church as she suffered badly from allergies to perfume. She enjoyed playing her organ, reading historical romance novels, playing Canasta, and visiting with her family. She had a very warm, loving personality. She always smiled. She was much loved and is greatly missed by her family.
**It was originally thought that Kathryn was born in Rogers, Arkansas as that is what she put on her original Social Security application. At the time of her birth, Arkansas was not requiring birth certs and even today there is no way to obtain a delayed birth cert for 1909, so that application was the only documented source for the town where she was born. New information from researching Charles and Edith Perkins shows without a doubt that in 1909 they were living at their home just outside Springdale, Arkansas that they had named "Dancing Rabbit Foot Lodge." This is where Kathryn was born. It was a very lavish home that Dr. Perkins had built in 1908. It is still standing and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It can be assumed, since Kathryn's mother died when Kathryn was age 13, and not having a birth cert to rely on, she went from memory as to her birth location. She knew she was born in Arkansas, and she knew Charles and Edith lived in Rogers, Ark. at the time her mother died in 1923, so Kathryn probably assumed they were living in Rogers at the time she was born too.
Berton Vorce was adopted by James and Anna Cole when he was nine years old. They were quite wealthy with no children of their own. When James Cole died in 1904, Berton inherited everything and it completely changed him. He began drinking, gambling and womanizing. He had inherited a nice home in Shenandoah, and a large cattle ranch outside of town. He lost everything. The family moved from Shenandoah, Iowa, to Michigan sometime between 1913 to 1916. Sister Helen was born In Battle Creek, Michigan in May 1916. In August 1918 Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came for a visit. At that time the Coles were living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The following month, Berton moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job with the Santa Fe Railroad. The Risteens lived in Williams and Harry was a longtime employee of the Santa Fe, so it can be surmised the Risteens talked Berton into this move and Harry helped him get the job. Vena and the children moved to Williams in October 1918.
Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. At first he went there alone, living in a converted boxcar. Vena and the children stayed in Williams, probably with the Risteens. For some reason, in January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton in that small, cold boxcar. Kathryn's brother Harry was born in the boxcar in April 1919. By September, Berton had quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. He had found a job in town as a bookkeeper. For whatever reason, that only lasted one month, then he went back to work for the Santa Fe, but in the freight depot in Williams. The family moved into a small bungalow. In October 1922 they were able to buy a home on the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
Vena died suddenly in January 1923. The Risteens, who were now living in Fresno, California, offered to take in the three youngest children - Helen, Harry and Virginia (Ginger). It must have been a horrible time for Vena's children, not only to lose their mother, but to be separated. Because both Harry Risteen and Berton Cole worked for the Santa Fe, they were able to get free passes to ride the trains. There were many trips made between Fresno and Williams over the next several years so the siblings could visit. The older ones stayed in Williams with Berton and got very involved in the community as they got older.
Kathryn joined the high school girl's basketball team. She played on the team all four years and was the captain of the freshman team. Her senior year the team was named the Northern Arizona championship team.
Kathryn worked in the Sultana Theater in Williams, playing the piano during the showing of the silent movies, and singing during intermission. She had inherited her parents talent for singing.
In 1925 Kathryn joined the Williams Camp Fire Girls, going on camping trips with them. One time brother Richard went along, supposedly to be there in case of snakes. In 1925 Kathryn also joined the high school yearbook staff.
From 1923 to 1926 Kathryn was very involved with singing in public. She would sing solos at Women's Club programs and meetings, at church, at minstrel shows, and musicals at the Sultana Theater. She sang for a Salvation Army benefit and a Boy Scout benefit. She also sang duets with brother Richard. Kathryn also enjoyed acting in plays and doing skits in minstrel shows. In her freshman year she had a part in "Prince Charming". By her senior year she was playing leading roles. After graduation she continued to have leading roles on stage at the Sultana Theater and was touted as giving wonderful performances.
Kathryn graduated Williams High School in June 1926. She moved to Texas to be with her father who had moved there in April. It is unknown how long she was there, but by July 1929 she was back in Williams performing on stage.
Kathryn moved to Los Angeles, California at some point before 1932, attending Chapman College for one year. She then worked in the Chapman Park Hotel, in charge of the dining room, and also played the piano there. The college and the hotel were owned by her mother's first cousin, C. C. Chapman. While working at the hotel she met many movie stars.
It is unknown why she stopped working at the hotel, because she loved meeting the movie stars, but she got a job as a clerk at a gas company in Los Angeles. This is where she met Joseph Harrington Curd, who also worked there. Kathryn married Joseph Harrington Curd on October 31, 1931 in Santa Ana, California. They had three children: Ronald Arthur; Vena Diane; Michael Dennis. After her first son was born, she took some classes and became a head custodian, first at the St. Aloysius Catholic School in Los Angeles, then later for public schools in Los Angeles County. One day while working, up on a ladder cleaning windows, she was hit in the back very hard with a ball. Afterwards, she suffered from bad back problems and had to quit working as a custodian. She and her husband moved from Los Angeles to San Pedro about 1965. Her husband passed away in 1988. After that, she moved to Las Vegas to be closer to her sons.
Kathryn was a very devout Catholic, but couldn't always go to church as she suffered badly from allergies to perfume. She enjoyed playing her organ, reading historical romance novels, playing Canasta, and visiting with her family. She had a very warm, loving personality. She always smiled. She was much loved and is greatly missed by her family.
Kathryn Lea was the eldest daughter of Berton Vorce and Vena Bertha (Clarke) Cole, the fourth of seven living children. She was named for her grandmother Martha Louisa Lea. Though the family lived in Shenandoah, Iowa, she was born in Arkansas. Her mother traveled to Arkansas to have the assistance of her brother-in-law, Dr. Charles Perkins, to help with the birth. She was born at the Perkins home.
**It was originally thought that Kathryn was born in Rogers, Arkansas as that is what she put on her original Social Security application. At the time of her birth, Arkansas was not requiring birth certs and even today there is no way to obtain a delayed birth cert for 1909, so that application was the only documented source for the town where she was born. New information from researching Charles and Edith Perkins shows without a doubt that in 1909 they were living at their home just outside Springdale, Arkansas that they had named "Dancing Rabbit Foot Lodge." This is where Kathryn was born. It was a very lavish home that Dr. Perkins had built in 1908. It is still standing and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It can be assumed, since Kathryn's mother died when Kathryn was age 13, and not having a birth cert to rely on, she went from memory as to her birth location. She knew she was born in Arkansas, and she knew Charles and Edith lived in Rogers, Ark. at the time her mother died in 1923, so Kathryn probably assumed they were living in Rogers at the time she was born too.
Berton Vorce was adopted by James and Anna Cole when he was nine years old. They were quite wealthy with no children of their own. When James Cole died in 1904, Berton inherited everything and it completely changed him. He began drinking, gambling and womanizing. He had inherited a nice home in Shenandoah, and a large cattle ranch outside of town. He lost everything. The family moved from Shenandoah, Iowa, to Michigan sometime between 1913 to 1916. Sister Helen was born In Battle Creek, Michigan in May 1916. In August 1918 Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came for a visit. At that time the Coles were living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The following month, Berton moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job with the Santa Fe Railroad. The Risteens lived in Williams and Harry was a longtime employee of the Santa Fe, so it can be surmised the Risteens talked Berton into this move and Harry helped him get the job. Vena and the children moved to Williams in October 1918.
Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. At first he went there alone, living in a converted boxcar. Vena and the children stayed in Williams, probably with the Risteens. For some reason, in January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton in that small, cold boxcar. Kathryn's brother Harry was born in the boxcar in April 1919. By September, Berton had quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. He had found a job in town as a bookkeeper. For whatever reason, that only lasted one month, then he went back to work for the Santa Fe, but in the freight depot in Williams. The family moved into a small bungalow. In October 1922 they were able to buy a home on the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
Vena died suddenly in January 1923. The Risteens, who were now living in Fresno, California, offered to take in the three youngest children - Helen, Harry and Virginia (Ginger). It must have been a horrible time for Vena's children, not only to lose their mother, but to be separated. Because both Harry Risteen and Berton Cole worked for the Santa Fe, they were able to get free passes to ride the trains. There were many trips made between Fresno and Williams over the next several years so the siblings could visit. The older ones stayed in Williams with Berton and got very involved in the community as they got older.
Kathryn joined the high school girl's basketball team. She played on the team all four years and was the captain of the freshman team. Her senior year the team was named the Northern Arizona championship team.
Kathryn worked in the Sultana Theater in Williams, playing the piano during the showing of the silent movies, and singing during intermission. She had inherited her parents talent for singing.
In 1925 Kathryn joined the Williams Camp Fire Girls, going on camping trips with them. One time brother Richard went along, supposedly to be there in case of snakes. In 1925 Kathryn also joined the high school yearbook staff.
From 1923 to 1926 Kathryn was very involved with singing in public. She would sing solos at Women's Club programs and meetings, at church, at minstrel shows, and musicals at the Sultana Theater. She sang for a Salvation Army benefit and a Boy Scout benefit. She also sang duets with brother Richard. Kathryn also enjoyed acting in plays and doing skits in minstrel shows. In her freshman year she had a part in "Prince Charming". By her senior year she was playing leading roles. After graduation she continued to have leading roles on stage at the Sultana Theater and was touted as giving wonderful performances.
Kathryn graduated Williams High School in June 1926. She moved to Texas to be with her father who had moved there in April. It is unknown how long she was there, but by July 1929 she was back in Williams performing on stage.
Kathryn moved to Los Angeles, California at some point before 1932, attending Chapman College for one year. She then worked in the Chapman Park Hotel, in charge of the dining room, and also played the piano there. The college and the hotel were owned by her mother's first cousin, C. C. Chapman. While working at the hotel she met many movie stars.
It is unknown why she stopped working at the hotel, because she loved meeting the movie stars, but she got a job as a clerk at a gas company in Los Angeles. This is where she met Joseph Harrington Curd, who also worked there. Kathryn married Joseph Harrington Curd on October 31, 1931 in Santa Ana, California. They had three children: Ronald Arthur; Vena Diane; Michael Dennis. After her first son was born, she took some classes and became a head custodian, first at the St. Aloysius Catholic School in Los Angeles, then later for public schools in Los Angeles County. One day while working, up on a ladder cleaning windows, she was hit in the back very hard with a ball. Afterwards, she suffered from bad back problems and had to quit working as a custodian. She and her husband moved from Los Angeles to San Pedro about 1965. Her husband passed away in 1988. After that, she moved to Las Vegas to be closer to her sons.
Kathryn was a very devout Catholic, but couldn't always go to church as she suffered badly from allergies to perfume. She enjoyed playing her organ, reading historical romance novels, playing Canasta, and visiting with her family. She had a very warm, loving personality. She always smiled. She was much loved and is greatly missed by her family.
**It was originally thought that Kathryn was born in Rogers, Arkansas as that is what she put on her original Social Security application. At the time of her birth, Arkansas was not requiring birth certs and even today there is no way to obtain a delayed birth cert for 1909, so that application was the only documented source for the town where she was born. New information from researching Charles and Edith Perkins shows without a doubt that in 1909 they were living at their home just outside Springdale, Arkansas that they had named "Dancing Rabbit Foot Lodge." This is where Kathryn was born. It was a very lavish home that Dr. Perkins had built in 1908. It is still standing and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It can be assumed, since Kathryn's mother died when Kathryn was age 13, and not having a birth cert to rely on, she went from memory as to her birth location. She knew she was born in Arkansas, and she knew Charles and Edith lived in Rogers, Ark. at the time her mother died in 1923, so Kathryn probably assumed they were living in Rogers at the time she was born too.
Berton Vorce was adopted by James and Anna Cole when he was nine years old. They were quite wealthy with no children of their own. When James Cole died in 1904, Berton inherited everything and it completely changed him. He began drinking, gambling and womanizing. He had inherited a nice home in Shenandoah, and a large cattle ranch outside of town. He lost everything. The family moved from Shenandoah, Iowa, to Michigan sometime between 1913 to 1916. Sister Helen was born In Battle Creek, Michigan in May 1916. In August 1918 Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came for a visit. At that time the Coles were living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The following month, Berton moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job with the Santa Fe Railroad. The Risteens lived in Williams and Harry was a longtime employee of the Santa Fe, so it can be surmised the Risteens talked Berton into this move and Harry helped him get the job. Vena and the children moved to Williams in October 1918.
Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. At first he went there alone, living in a converted boxcar. Vena and the children stayed in Williams, probably with the Risteens. For some reason, in January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton in that small, cold boxcar. Kathryn's brother Harry was born in the boxcar in April 1919. By September, Berton had quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. He had found a job in town as a bookkeeper. For whatever reason, that only lasted one month, then he went back to work for the Santa Fe, but in the freight depot in Williams. The family moved into a small bungalow. In October 1922 they were able to buy a home on the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
Vena died suddenly in January 1923. The Risteens, who were now living in Fresno, California, offered to take in the three youngest children - Helen, Harry and Virginia (Ginger). It must have been a horrible time for Vena's children, not only to lose their mother, but to be separated. Because both Harry Risteen and Berton Cole worked for the Santa Fe, they were able to get free passes to ride the trains. There were many trips made between Fresno and Williams over the next several years so the siblings could visit. The older ones stayed in Williams with Berton and got very involved in the community as they got older.
Kathryn joined the high school girl's basketball team. She played on the team all four years and was the captain of the freshman team. Her senior year the team was named the Northern Arizona championship team.
Kathryn worked in the Sultana Theater in Williams, playing the piano during the showing of the silent movies, and singing during intermission. She had inherited her parents talent for singing.
In 1925 Kathryn joined the Williams Camp Fire Girls, going on camping trips with them. One time brother Richard went along, supposedly to be there in case of snakes. In 1925 Kathryn also joined the high school yearbook staff.
From 1923 to 1926 Kathryn was very involved with singing in public. She would sing solos at Women's Club programs and meetings, at church, at minstrel shows, and musicals at the Sultana Theater. She sang for a Salvation Army benefit and a Boy Scout benefit. She also sang duets with brother Richard. Kathryn also enjoyed acting in plays and doing skits in minstrel shows. In her freshman year she had a part in "Prince Charming". By her senior year she was playing leading roles. After graduation she continued to have leading roles on stage at the Sultana Theater and was touted as giving wonderful performances.
Kathryn graduated Williams High School in June 1926. She moved to Texas to be with her father who had moved there in April. It is unknown how long she was there, but by July 1929 she was back in Williams performing on stage.
Kathryn moved to Los Angeles, California at some point before 1932, attending Chapman College for one year. She then worked in the Chapman Park Hotel, in charge of the dining room, and also played the piano there. The college and the hotel were owned by her mother's first cousin, C. C. Chapman. While working at the hotel she met many movie stars.
It is unknown why she stopped working at the hotel, because she loved meeting the movie stars, but she got a job as a clerk at a gas company in Los Angeles. This is where she met Joseph Harrington Curd, who also worked there. Kathryn married Joseph Harrington Curd on October 31, 1931 in Santa Ana, California. They had three children: Ronald Arthur; Vena Diane; Michael Dennis. After her first son was born, she took some classes and became a head custodian, first at the St. Aloysius Catholic School in Los Angeles, then later for public schools in Los Angeles County. One day while working, up on a ladder cleaning windows, she was hit in the back very hard with a ball. Afterwards, she suffered from bad back problems and had to quit working as a custodian. She and her husband moved from Los Angeles to San Pedro about 1965. Her husband passed away in 1988. After that, she moved to Las Vegas to be closer to her sons.
Kathryn was a very devout Catholic, but couldn't always go to church as she suffered badly from allergies to perfume. She enjoyed playing her organ, reading historical romance novels, playing Canasta, and visiting with her family. She had a very warm, loving personality. She always smiled. She was much loved and is greatly missed by her family.
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