Lucile Viola Leggett

     Lucile Viola was born on Monday, 23 February 1885 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, at the family home at 566 Third Ave.. Lucile Viola married Rice Alva Howell, son of Floyd Parshall Howell and Lucy Ann Mapes, on 4 October 1916 in Detroit. 9 January 1920, Lucile and her husband, Rice, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan, at 106 Colorado Ave.. Enumerated in this household were Rice A. Howell [35 Michigan], his wife, Lucile L. [35 Michigan], & their daughter, Joan V. [3 mos Michigan]. Rice is a real estate broker.² Later in the year, the family moved to their new home at 588 Southfield, Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan. 3 April 1930, Lucile and her husband, Rice, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township at 588 Southfield Road. Enumerated in this household were Rice A. Howell [45 Michigan], his wife: Lucile L. [45 Michigan], children: Joann V. [10 Michigan] & Wilhelmina W. [8 Michigan], brother-in-law: Fred C. Leggett [49 Michigan]. It was valued at $58,000. Rice was 24 and Lucile was 31 when first married. Rice is a real estate broker.³ 19 April 1940, Lucile and her husband, Rice, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township at 588 Southfield Road. Enumerated in this household were Rice A. Howell [55 Michigan], his wife: Lucille [55 Michigan], Joanne [20 Michigan] & Wilhimena [17 Michigan]. Rice was a manager agent & insurance agent. Their home was valued at $7,500. Rice had 2 years of high school, Lucille 4 years of high school. Joanne one year of college, & Wilhemena 3 years of high school.⁴
Lucile's husband, Rice, died on 1 December 1949 in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township at the family home at 588 Southfield Road leaving her a widow.⁵ A few years after Rice's death, Lucile went to California to live with her daughter, Billie, during the fall & winter & back with her daughter, JoAnn, during the spring & summer. Her daughter JoAnn then resided in Luciles's former home at 588 Southfield.⁶ 11 April 1950, Lucile was listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township at 588 Southfield. Enumerated in this household were Lucile Howell [65 Michigan - widow] & Wilhelmina [27 Michigan]. Wilhelmina was a receptionist at a beauty salon and had worked 40 hours the previous week.⁷ Lucile died on Saturday, 3 January 1976 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, at age 90 years, 10 months and 11 days from pneumonia. She had been living with her daughter, Billie who had cared for her for many years. Lucile was buried at the Sashabaw Cemetery in the Sashabaw Plains, Independence Township, Oakland County, Michigan, in block 3, lot 20. She was buried next to her husband in the same plot as her parents, & her brother Fred.