Wiggin/Williams Family Tree

Click Here   for a complete biography of George Wiggin

LELA INEZ WILLIAMS was born in Minatare, Scottsbluff Co, Nebraska, 7 Aug 1912 and died 3 Dec 1995 in Independence, MO. Her parents were Alvie and Myrtle Williams.

George and Lela eloped and were married in Fayetteville, Ark. on 23 Aug 1927. George was 51 years old and Lela was 15. At the time of their marriage George was Shop Foreman at the Great Western Sugar Co. in Bayard, Nebr. After their marriage within a couple of years, he retired from the company and for the next six years ran Bayard's leading dairy. George had four children from two previous marriages. One daughter, Edith, lived with Lela and George for a few years.

Lela and George had 12 children; three of these being adopted when they were babies. Lela and George had a dairy in Bayard, NE for several years. Later sold out and moved to a 2400 acre ranch near Bridgeport, Nebraska. A land of cactus, sand blows and rattlesnakes. They ran a herd of about 200 head of stock cattle, and had several horses which the older children learned to ride. Riding was a necessity in rounding up the cattle from the hills. Lela was a US mail carrier on a rural route of approx 60 miles-daily.

After the birth of their 10th child they moved to the Ozarks, in Arkansas near Southwest City, MO to live on a 460 acre farm. A land of creeks, rolling hills and oak trees-beautiful area. Here two more daughters were born.

As the children became adults they scattered to the far ends of the country. After most of them had raised their own families, they longed to reunite as brothers and sisters. A family reunion would enable this to happen.

In June 1987 the Wiggin Family held its first family reunion at Bob's twin sister Betty and Don McCaw's farm near Big Cabin, Oklahoma. Eleven of the 12 brothers and sisters attended, along with their mother and numerous other family members and relatives. George, from Alaska, was unable to attend.

At the 1988 reunion held at Sulphur Springs, AR., all twelve of the Wiggin brothers and sisters were together for the first time since 1951, when their father died. This reunion was a very special time for family and friends. It was a wonderful opportunity to get reacquainted and to reminisce of days gone by.

The family joined hands and sang "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" at the close of the Sunday Service. This has become a tradition and followed in subsequent reunions.

The June 1994 family reunion was held near Clinton, MO. Eleven of the twelve brothers and sisters were in attendance. Max, from Utah, was unable to attend. It was another great time together, especially to have our brother Bob with us as his health has been failing considerably. Following with tradition, at the closing of the Sunday Service, the family once again joined hands and sang "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."

A few weeks after this reunion, the first break in that family circle of 12 children came when Bob died of a heart attack. The circle may be broken here on earth, but in heaven it will be rejoined as each one goes to meet our Lord. On 9 Jul 1994, Bob was called home to be with our Lord. A short time later, the family circle was once again broken with the tragic loss of a nephew. In September 1994, Jimmy Lynch was accidently killed, at the young age of 35.

Still, another break in the family circle occurred when Lela, loving mother of 12 children, died 3 December 1995 in Independence, Mo. The family shall all meet again in heaven one day when they see Jesus.

George and Lela's 12 children are: George Hayes Jr., Verne Alva, Lela Inez, Helen Rose, Paul David, Marie Kathleen, Robert Dean "Bobby" and Barbara Jean "Betty" (twins), Max Lee, Joy Christine, Gay Myrtle, and Cynthia Ann.

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