This is the story of my mother from my perspective of course. Most opinions of her are not good; but I think as I have researched her my opinion has become sad for her. I don't know that I feel
sorry for her, but more I wonder how someone's life could be so bad that they systematically destroy themselves.
In an effort to try and get to know a mother that I did not grow up with, I have had to do a lot of digging, talking to relatives that I didn't even know existed until I found a cousin through Ancestry.com
So here is what I know, what I believe and the lingering questions that may never be answered. The one thing above all else, as lousy of a mother as she was I loved her.
Betty Smith was born September 2, 1938 to Lee Smith and Lena Wilson in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois. She grew up in Mount Vernon and from what I understand graduated from high school.
July 22, 1956 she married Robert L. McCormick. He was born in Joliet, Illinois about 1931. He was the son of Louis McCormick and Grace McDonald. She was 17 when they were married, my Grandmother
signed for her to be able to wed. The witnesses to the marriage were Patsy L. Smith and James E. Smith.
I am not sure what happened between Robert McCormick and my mom, but about a little over a year later my mom married Eddie Paul Hayes. I could not find any record of a divorce, I am unable to find
anything about Robert McCormick. I have a feeling this was the beginning of a long line of marriages that she left for whatever reason and did not file for divorce prior to marrying again.
September 14, 1957 she married Eddie Paul Hayes. He was born October 12, 1938 in Illinois. His parents were James Chesley Hayes and Madge Quida Beal. In 1958 Eddie Paul and my mom moved to
Texas. From what I am gathering they moved there because Eddie Paul's family had moved there.
Eddie Paul and my mom had a son born April 3, 1958 in Smith, Texas. Prior to 1959 Eddie Paul
and my mom went back to Mount Vernon, and with my mom's parents and siblings moved to California. April 11, 1959 Eddie and my mom had a daughter born in Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, California.
Eddie Paul and my mom were together until March 9, 1961 that is when she filed for divorce. An interluctory divorce was granted with the understanding that it was not a final decree. The only
way it would become final would be if one of the parties requested it to be final at the end of one year.