Seavers in the News -- Mary Seaver Dies in Los Angeles in 1974

Here is this week's edition of "Seavers in the News" - a weekly feature from the historical newspapers about persons with the surname Seaver that are interesting, useful, mysterious, fun, macabre, or add information to my family tree database.

This week's entry is from The Los Angeles [Calif.] Times newspaper dated 28 May 1974, page 26:

The transcription of the article is:

"Mary Seaver; Founder of Builder Center

"Mrs. Mary Louise Seaver, 83, founder and director of the Architects and Engineers  Service Building Center, died Monday in Los Angeles after a brief illness.

"Mrs. Seaver, widow of Los Angeles attorney, Byron D. Seaver, had remained active until the time of her death in the center, which she founded 36 years ago as a means of providing information concerning new materials in the building trades.

"Born Mary Louise Schmidt in Denver, Mrs. Seaver spent her early years in Mexico and was brought to California by her parents in 1911.

"In 1914, she was instrumental in setting up the Metropolitan Building and Materials exhibit in downtown Los Angeles and in 1927 was chief builder of the Architects Building at 5th and Figueroa Sts.

"In 1936, she leased a block on Wilshire Blvd. where she built the California House and Garden Exhibit, a complex of six houses in six different styles, designed by prominent architects.

"She set up the present building exhibit at 7933 W. 3rd St. in 1957, where her sister, Florence Schmidt, who was associated with her throughout her career, will continue to direct the business.

"In addition to her sister, she leaves three daughters, Mrs. Mary Wade, Mrs. Barbara Gardner and Mts. John T. McAllister; a son, Richard C. Seaver, and 15 grandchildren.  Private services will be held Monday."

The source citation is:

"Mary Seaver; Founder of Building Center," The Los Angeles [Calif.] Times newspaper, Tuesday, 28 May 1974, page 26, column 6, Mary Louise Seaver obituary,   Newspapers.com   (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 July 2023).

This obituary is very complete - it identifies her birth date and place, occupation, accomplishments, but no associations.

Mary Louise Schmidt (1891-1974) was born 25  July 1890 in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Earnest Alfred and Lee (Howard) Schmidt.  She died 27 May 1974 in Los Angeles.  She married Byron Dick Seaver (1885-1954) on 3 September 1921 in Los Angeles.  They had four children:

*  Richard Carlton Seaver (1922-2007), married 1946 Sallie Suzanne Tiernan (1923-2004).

*  Mary Lee Seaver (1924-2011), married Jeptha Alan Wade (1922-2015).

*  Barbara Seaver (1925-1993), married 1950 John Howard Gardner (1923-2013).

*  Joan Seaver (1929-????), married 1960 John Tower McAllister (1909-1974).

Byron Dick Seaver (1896-1974) is my 4th cousin four times removed, with the common Seaver ancestor of my 7th great-grandfather, Joseph Seaver (1672-1754).

There are over 10,000 Seaver "stories" in my family tree - and this was one of them.   Life happens, accidentally and intentionally, and sometimes a person has significant accomplishments.  I am glad that I can honor  Mary Louise (Schmidt) Seaver today.  

You never know when a descendant or relative will find this blog post and learn something about their ancestors or relatives, or will provide more information about them to me.

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Disclosure:  I have a complimentary subscription to Newspapers.com and have used it extensively to find articles about my ancestral and one-name families.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/07/seavers-in-news-mary-seaver-dies-in-los.html

Copyright (c) 2023, Randall J. Seaver

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