FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
Raymond LeRoy Sterling “Ray” Chatfield
3rd of 3 children of Arthur William Chatfield & Ada B. Miller
Born: May 15, 1914, Emma, Pitkin Co., Colorado
Died: Jan 30, 1970 (age 55), Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California; pancreatic cancer
Buried: St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California
Occupation: Ranch manager, crop duster, contractor, real estate developer
Married: Jul 2, 1933, Lucille Elizabeth “Lu” LaGrande, Maxwell, Colusa Co., California
Two children: LeRoy Joseph Chatfield, Charles Carlton Chatfield
Lucille Elizabeth “Lu” LaGrande
5th of 9 children of Joseph Hermas “Joe” LaGrande & Adeline Icinthia “Adele” Spooner
Born: Mar 3, 1912, Williams, Colusa Co., California
Died: Jan 2, 1997 (age 84), Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California; Alzheimer’s disease
Buried: St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California
Occupation: Pharmacy salesclerk
Married (1): Jul 2, 1933, Raymond LeRoy Sterling “Ray” Chatfield, Maxwell, Colusa Co., California
Two children: LeRoy Joseph Chatfield, Charles Carlton Chatfield
Married (2): Jun 3, 1976, Edgar Herman Allard, Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California
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Timeline and Records
Three children Arthur William Chatfield & Ada B. Miller:
1. Iris Minola Chatfield
1902 – 1975
2. Arthur Leslie “Les” Chatfield
1904 – 1972
3. Raymond LeRoy Sterling “Ray” Chatfield
1914 – 1970
Nine children of Joseph Hermas “Joe” LaGrande & Adeline Icinthia Spooner:
1. Alma Marie LaGrande
1905 – 1999
2. Ernest Lawrence LaGrande
1907 – 1999
3. Georgia Agnes LaGrande
1908 – 2012
4. Stephen Francis LaGrande
1910 – 1972
5. Lucille Elizabeth “Lu” LaGrande
1912 – 1997
6. Joseph James LaGrande
1915 – 2004
7. Matthew Michael (Matt) LaGrande
1916 – 2003
8. Victor Leo LaGrande
1918 – 2009
9. Harold Anthony LaGrande
1924 – 2011
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Mar 3, 1912: Birth of Lucille Elizabeth “Lu” LaGrande, 5th of 9 children of Joseph Hermas “Joe” LaGrande & Adeline Icinthia Spooner, in Williams, Colusa Co., California
May 15, 1914: Birth of Raymond LeRoy Sterling “Ray” Chatfield, 3rd of 3 children of Arthur William Chatfield & Ada B. Miller, on the homestead ranch in the town of Emma, Pitkin Co., Colorado
Jan 20, 1920: Federal Census for Maxwell Township, Colusa Co., California:
Chatfield, Arthur W.: Head, age 41, married 1 for 9 years, born Nebraska, father born Ohio, mother born Missouri, farmer, rice farm
Ada B: Wife, age 41, married 1 for 9 years, 2 children born, 2 children living, born Illinois, father born unknown, mother born New York
Leroy: son, age 5, born Colorado, father born Nebraska, mother born Illinois
Note: Arthur & Ada’s daughter, Iris Chatfield (age 18) is married to Dewey Cade, but not found in census records
Arthur & Ada’s son Arthur Leslie Chatfield (age 15), is living with his aunt and uncle, Jacquelin and James Mallon in Oakland
Leroy, age 5, is Raymond LeRoy Sterling “Ray” Chatfield, Art and Ada’s third and youngest child
Jan 1920: Federal Census for Williams Township, Colusa Co., California:
Name: Lucile E Lagrande
Age: 7
Birth Year: abt 1913, Birthplace: California
Home in 1920: Williams, Colusa, California
Race: White, Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital status: Single
Father’s name: Joseph H Lagrande
Father’s Birthplace: California
Mother’s name: Abeline I Lagrande
Mother’s Birthplace: California
Able to Speak English: Yes
Attended School: yes, Able to Read: Yes, Able to Write: Yes
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph H Lagrande 37
Abeline I Lagrande 36
Alma M Lagrande 14
Ernest L Lagrande 12
Georgia A Lagrande 11
Stephen F Lagrande 9
Lucile E Lagrande 7
Joseph E Lagrande 5
Mathew M Lagrande 4
Victor L Lagrande 2
Lorena G Brown 70, Boarder
Jan 7, 1930: Federal Census for Maxwell Township, Colusa Co., California:
Chatfield, Arthur: Head, age 51, age 22 when married, born Nebraska, father born Illinois mother born Kansas, foreman, general farming
Ada: Wife, age 51, age 22 when married, born Illinois, father born Illinois, mother born New York
Leroy: son, age 15, born Colorado, father born Nebraska, mother born Illinois (Raymond LeRoy Sterling Chatfield)
Yvonne: granddaughter, age 10, born California, father born United States, mother born Colorado (Yvonne Cade/Burns, daughter of Iris)
Note: Arthur William Chatfield, Sr.; Leroy is Raymond Sterling LeRoy Chatfield
Apr 16, 1930: Federal Census for Williams Township, Colusa Co., California:
Name: Lucille E Lagrande
Birth Year: abt 1912
Gender: Female, Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Home in 1930: Williams, Colusa, California, USA
Attended School: Yes, Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father’s Birthplace: California
Mother’s Birthplace: California
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph H Lagrande 46
Adeline H Lagrande 46
Ernest L Lagrande 22
Georgia A Lagrande 21
Stephen F Lagrande 19
Lucille E Lagrande 18
Joseph G Lagrande 15
Mathew N Lagrande 14
Victor L Lagrande 12
Harold A Lagrande 5
1930: Williams High School class photo, Lucille is pictured in the top row, far right:
Jul 2, 1933: Marriage of Raymond LeRoy Sterling Chatfield & Lucille Elizabeth LaGrande, in Maxwell, Colusa Co., California
Ray & Lu wedding photo, 1933
1936: California Voter Registration for Willows No.3 Election Precinct, Glenn Co., California:
Name: Raymond S.L. Chatfield
Residence Date: 1926-1944
Street address: Willows
Residence Place: Glenn, California, USA
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: salesman
Name: Lucille Chatfield
Housewife
Party Affiliation: Democrat
May 10, 1940: Federal Census for Colusa, Colusa Co., California:
Chatfield, Leroy: Head, male, white, age 27, married, born Colorado, collector of tractor equipment, completed 4 yrs high school (Raymond Sterling Chatfield)
Lucille: Wife, female, white, age 27, born California, completed 4 yrs high school
LeRoy: son, male, white, age 5
Charles: son, male, white, age 3
sons: LeRoy and Charles
As I Was Told: In the 1940s my mother required my brother and me to attend Mass on Sundays and take Communion, make a good confession every Saturday, serve as altar boys for the parish priest, not eat meat on Fridays, attend the convent school, pray the Rosary, observe the practice of Lent including the weekly stations of the cross, and not enter a Protestant church even for a social event. I never questioned my mother’s religious observance because as descendants of devout French Canadian Catholics it seemed natural and commonplace. ~LeRoy Chatfield
Oct 16, 1940: WWII Draft Card:
Name: Raymond Le Roy Chatfield
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 26
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 15 May 1914
Birth Place: Emma, Colorado, USA
Residence Place: Colusa, Colusa, California, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Colusa, Colusa, California, USA
Employer: Massey-Harris Co
Weight: 160
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Height: 5 10
Like Father, Like Son
My dad was restless and unsettled; he seemed to be searching for something. Looking back, I think he felt insecure because of his lack of formal education. I especially remember one heartfelt and sincere talk he had with me while we were driving to Williams in his pickup. It was summertime and I must have been in the sixth or seventh grade. He said he wanted me to make something of myself and not to grow up and be like him. I was taken aback because I was very much in awe of my father and he had never before confided in me like this, but I knew what he meant. He wanted me to do well in school, get an education and find a good profession. But whatever you do, he continued, you must do the best you can. Do not settle for the ordinary, make up your mind to be the best.
His talk made a profound impression on me because he had never talked to me before with such a gentle and confidential voice. Normally, he was one to talk little, issue orders and expect immediate and full compliance. But I felt badly for him. Why would he not want me to be like him? In my eyes, there was nothing that he could not do, or could not repair or could not solve. How could a man, who did all his arithmetic in his head, not be brilliant? I very much admired him, even as I carefully stepped around his short temper. But this was a new revelation for me, my father was not happy with his life, and he expected me to do better than he had done.
I have no recollection of seeing my father act belligerent or threaten to fight another person, but from an early age, I knew that he should never be provoked; he was quick-tempered and fearless. I did witness his participation in one of the most foolhardy and terrifying stunts imaginable. I went deer hunting one time in my life when I was twelve years old. It was a complete disaster. My first day out, walking in the mountainous area, I got separated from the other hunters and even though it only lasted for a short time, I panicked and became disoriented. I was terrified. At that moment, I realized I was not cut out to participate in the manly ritual of deer hunting. In the late afternoon, after the day’s hunt, my father, a fellow hunter, and I drove to a large cabin not far from where we had camped. I cannot remember why we went there but I do remember my father and his friend had been drinking. Whatever the purpose of the visit, I remember my dad’s friend standing on the porch of the cabin with his deer rifle in hand and my father standing in the driveway near the pine trees. My father placed a beer bottle on his head and invited the deer hunter to shoot it off his head. The hunter hesitated for a moment, raised his rifle to his shoulder and pointed it at my dad. The terrifying silence was shattered with the explosion from the rifle, the sound echoing through the mountains. The bottle shattered and my father stood still as a statue. The hunter lowered the rifle and said, “ you didn’t have to worry, I aimed high.” I was stunned. I could not speak; I felt like crying but dared not. I felt sorry for my father and sorry that I had participated in what I just witnessed. On the way home, he told me not to say anything to my mother about the shooting incident lest she worry. I didn’t.
My father dropped out of high school at the end of his freshman year and went to work and throughout his life, moved from career to career, looking for financial stability, looking to use his God-given talents, and looking to prove himself. When he married in 1933, he was working as a home heating oil delivery and repairman. Later he went to work for an agricultural implement supply company to collect on the debts owed by farmers and from there to a national manufacture of rice harvesters doing the same kind of work. He managed a rice ranch for an absentee landlord from San Francisco. He went into business for himself, traveling with a harvester combine throughout California and Arizona doing contract harvesting for farmers. He opened a construction business, manufacturing concrete blocks for home construction, and served as a general contractor to build homes using his product. He bought an airplane, learned to fly, and opened a crop-dusting business. He sold warehouse dryers throughout California, Arizona, and Mexico and he sold crop pesticides. In 1950, he and my mother relocated to Sacramento, where he found a job as a parts department manager for an agricultural supply house. Encouraged by one of his neighbors, he went to work selling commercial real estate and specialized in selling agricultural land on the fringes of Sacrament that would someday be needed for urban development. This work led him to the development and management of urban warehouse properties for his own investment and those of his clients.
Never sick a day in his life, he was stricken with pancreatic cancer, and died at the age of fifty-six. Shortly before his death, he told me he had no complaints about the shortness of his life. “I’ve lived a full life,” he said, “I am satisfied.”
Source: May 2020, Syndic Literary Journal, by LeRoy Chatfield
Funeral Arrangments
Forty-three years ago, at age 56-years, my father received his death sentence when the doctors at Stanford Hospital found pancreatic cancer and declared it to be inoperable. They predicted he would be dead in six months or less and they were correct. After recovering from the exploratory surgery, my father began to make his funeral arrangements.
Along with my mother, he visited St. Mary’s Cemetery to select a burial place. He chose an outdoor location in the mausoleum with an eastern exposure. Looking ahead to future gravesite visitations by small grandchildren he selected a vault about 36 inches off the ground – just high enough for them to see his burial site at eye-level.
An aside: Even though my mother remarried and lived another 25 years, they are buried side-by-side at this location. Whether it was because the grave had already been paid for, she decided to use it, or whether she preferred to be with him still, I have no way of knowing.
After his selection of the burial site, my father then visited the funeral home to select his casket, and pay for all the costs associated with his imminent funeral. He was a practical person; he knew what had to be done and saw no point in leaving these loose ends to the worries of his grieving wife. Finally, he met with the attorney who handled his will and made some adjustments he thought would be of benefit to his wife and his two grown sons.
Is it now my turn? I have not yet received any such medical death sentence but at the age of eighty-five not only is it conceivable but even likely I will soon enough.
Source: Aug 2020, Syndic Literary Journal, by LeRoy Chatfield
My Mother
Writing about my mother was difficult, even troublesome. For one thing, she would not appreciate it. She would be nervous and uneasy. She would worry about it. With a reproving frown on her face and a harrumph! with her shoulders, she would say: “It’s no one else’s business, I don’t care what people think!” She reminds me of a person who insists so much and so often that she doesn’t care about what others say or think about her, it is obvious that she cares a great deal about what is said and what people do think. This is exactly the reason, I believe, why my mother so often counseled her nieces and many other young women who came to her for advice – move away from your relatives!
Source: Aug 2020, Syndic Literary Journal, by LeRoy Chatfield
Lu and Ray at Mont LaSalle, circa 1952
Note: Mont LaSalle is the Christian Brothers Monastery seven miles west of Napa in the Mount Veeder wine country where their son LeRoy lived and received his monastic religious training from 1948 to 1953.
1959: City Directory for Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California:
Name: Raymond L Chatfield
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1959
Street address: 2159 56th Av
Residence Place: Sacramento, California
Occupation: Salesman
Spouse: Lucille E Chatfield
Publication Title: Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1959
1961: City Directory for Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California:
Name: Raymond L Chatfield
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1961
Street address: 2159 56th Av
Residence Place: Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA
Occupation: Salesman
Spouse: Lucille E Chatfield
Publication Title: Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1961
1963: City Directory for Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California:
Name: Raymond L Chatfield
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1961
Street address: 2159 56th Av
Residence Place: Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA
Occupation: Salesman
Spouse: Lucille E Chatfield
Publication Title: Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1963
1964: honoring Brother Gilbert (aka LeRoy Chatfield) for his work as Assistant Principal and Senior Class Teacher & Moderator, Bakersfield, California:
Brother Gilbert (LeRoy), with parents Ray & Lucille, Bakersfield 1964
1964: City Directory for Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California:
Name: Raymond L Chatfield
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1964
Street address: 6801 Los Palamitos way
Residence Place: Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA
Occupation: Salesman
Spouse: Lucille E Chatfield
Publication Title: Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1964
1965: City Directory for Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California:
Name: Raymond L Chatfield
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1965
Street address: 6801 Los Palamitas way
Residence Place: Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA
Occupation: Sales Manager
Spouse: Lucille E Chatfield
Publication Title: Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1965
1967: City Directory for Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California:
Name: Raymond L Chatfield
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1967
Residence Place: Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA
Spouse: Lucille E Chatfield
Publication Title: Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1967
Jan 30, 1970: Raymond LeRoy Sterling “Ray” Chatfield (age 55), 3rd of 3 children of Arthur William Chatfield & Ada B. Miller, in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California; of pancreatic cancer. He was entombed in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California.
Jan 1970: Social Security Death Index:
Name: Raymond Chatfield
Birth Date: 15 May 1914
Issue Year: Before 1951
Issue State: California
Death Date: Jan 1970
Jan 30, 1970: California Death Index:
Name: Raymond L Chatfield
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 15 May 1914
Birth Place: Colorado
Death Date: 30 Jan 1970
Death Place: Sacramento
Feb 2, 1970: The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California (pg 20):
obituary cont: Brown of Sacramento, and four grandchildren. Entombment will be in St. Mary’s Mausoleum.
Jun 3, 1976: Marriage of Lucille Elizabeth “Lu” LaGrande & Edgar Herman Allard, her 2nd marriage, in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California
1976: California Marriage Index:
Name: Lucile E Lagrande
Gender: Female
Birth Year: abt 1913
Age: 63
Marriage Date: 3 Jun 1976
Marriage Place: Sacramento, California, USA
Spouse Name: Edgar H Allard
Spouse Age: 64
Jan 2, 1997: Death of Lucille Elizabeth “Lu” (LaGrande) Chatfield Allard (age 84), in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California; of Alzheimer’s disease. Lucille was living in Lockeford, San Joaquin Co., California at the time of her death. She is entombed with her first husband, Raymond LeRoy Sterling “Ray” Chatfield, in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum in Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California.
Jan 1997: Social Security Death Index:
Name: Lucille Elizabeth Chatfield
[Lucille E Allard]
[Lucille Elizabeth Lagrande]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 3 Mar 1912
Birth Place: Williams Colusa, California
Death Date: 2 Jan 1997
Father: Joseph Lagrande
Mother: Adeline Spooner
Notes: May 1947: Name listed as LUCILLE ELIZABETH CHATFIELD; 28 Nov 1977: Name listed as LUCILLE E ALLARD
1997: California Death Index:
Name: Lucille Elizabeth Chatfield Allard
[Lucille Elizabeth Lagrande]
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 3 Mar 1912
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 2 Jan 1997
Death Place: Sacramento
Mother’s Maiden Name: Spooner
Father’s Surname: Lagrande
Jan 4, 1997, Sacramento Bee (pg 29)
Jan 4, 1997: The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California (pg 29):
ALLARD LUCILLE CHATFIELD Died on January 2 1997 from complications associated with advanced stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. Born in Willams (Colusa Co.) California on March 3, 1912. A resident of Sacramento since 1950 and Lockeford, CA since 1983. Survived by her husband of 20 years Edgar H. Allard of Lockeford, CA. Predeceased by her first husband of 37 years Raymond L. Chatfield of Sacramento. Survived by her son LeRov Chatfield and daughter-in-law Bonnie Chatfield of Sacramento and her son Charles C. Chatfield and daughter-in-law Carolyn Chatfield of Clements, CA. Survived by 10 grandchildren: Clare Chatfield Stephens Menlo Park, CA; Christy Newport Lockeford, CA; Sarah Chatfield Flanagan Boston, MA; Carey Madill Hanford, CA; Kate Chatfield Stiehler San Bruno, CA; Corev Robinson Clements, CA; Amy Cameron West Sacramento; Casey Chatfield Clements, CA; Anne Chatfield Sacramento; and Charles (Chaz) Chatfield Clements, CA. Survived by 4 great-grandchildren Caroline Cameron; Courtney Newport; Chase Robinson and Chatfield Stiehler. Survived by her sisters Alma Stephens, Colusa, CA and Georgia Travnham, Woodland, CA. Her brothers Ernest LaGrande; Steve LaGrande; Matthew LaGrande; Joseph LaGrande; Victor LaGrande and Harold LaGrande all of Williams, CA. Lucille Chatfield Allard was active in the development of new Catholic Parishes; St. Robert’s Parish and St. Anne’s Parish in Sacramento and St. Joachim’s Parish in Lockeford, CA. For many years Lucille and her first husband Ray Chatfield were very active in support of Msgr. Ed Kavanagh’s work at St. Patrick’s Home in Sacramento. Recitation of the Rosary will be held Sunday January 5th at 7:00 p.m. in St. Joachim’s Parish Church 13392 Lockeford Ranch Rd in Lockeford. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10:00 a.m. January 6th at St Joachim’s Parish Church in Lockeford. Entombment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery 6700 21st Ave in Sacramento at 2:00 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Gierhart Wells & Donahue Funeral Home in Lodi.
2020. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau.