Grace Elmyra Lee Benedict (1898-1980) was the middle sister between Mabel and Blanche Lee (children of Minnie and Henry). Grace was born in Watrous, New Mexico, where her father, Henry, was a telegraph operator for the railroad.

Blanche, Mabel and Grace Lee about 1901

Grace Lee about 1914

Grace married James Selby Benedict in 1917, and they moved to Amarillo, Texas. They had three children, Mildred, Marilee, and Edward. Edward died at around age two of leukemia I think.

Mildred, Selby, Marilee, Edward, Grace Benedict

Barbara Lucas, Minnie Lee, Mildred and Grace Benedict

Selby died in 1939, leaving Grace, Mildred and Marilee on their own. Grace was a seamstress and they moved to the Los Angeles area (Burbank), near where Harlan lived. She worked at Bullocks Department Store in the alterations department.

Mildred and Marilee around 1935

Marilee (1919-1994) married Bev Fredendall in 1959. They lived in the LA area (Glendale and Pasadena I think) , and had a sailboat that they took to Mexico, Catalina Island, etc. Marilee worked as a stenographer for the railroad.

Mildred, Bev, Marilee and Grace at Marilee and Bev’s wedding in 1959

Mildred Grace (1918-2000) married Howard (Buck) McNealy in 1948 and lived in the LA area also. They eventually ended up in Kona, Hawaii. They owned a cabin cruiser called the “Molly Mac”.

Buck and Mildred in 1955

Mamie and Pappy took the girls to California around 1959 for a Disneyland trip and also to visit Grace and Harlan. Marilee and Bev took us to Catalina on their sailboat and we returned on Mildred and Buck’s cabin cruiser. They boys went the next year.

Steve and Buddy headed to Catalina around 1960

Grace Lee Benedict

Great aunt

2nd great aunt

3rd great aunt

Marilee and Mildred Benedict

1st cousins once removed

1st cousins twice removed

1st cousins 3x removed