Grandpa's Painting of Cecil

 

 

Greg Gould's painting of Cecil Richardson 

Quick Bio 

    Cecil Laverne Richardson, son of William Elmer Richardson and Eva Florence Lyons, was born on 17 May 1893 in Forest City, Holt County, Missouri. He had a younger brother named Herbert Alfred Richardson. In 1900, Cecil age 7 lived with his parents William age 33 and Eva age 31 in Forest City, Holt County, Missouri as well as with his 4 month old brother Herbert. They still lived in Forest City, Missouri in 1910 with William age 42, Eva age 40, Cecil age 16, and Herbert age 10, as well as Maggie M. Lyons, niece of William Richardson, age 18. Cecil married Izeyl Swope on 26 April 1916 in Buchanan County, Missouri. They had a son named Alfred Elmer Richardson. In 1920, Cecil age 26 lived with his wife Izeyl age 22 and their son Albert age 1 in Forest City, Holt County, Missouri. By 1930, Cecil and Izeyl were divorced. Cecil age age 36 lived with his parents William age 62 and Eva age 60 in Forbes, Holt County, Missouri. Cecil Richardson wed Ethel Maria (Lease) Perry on 22 November 1935 in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. In 1940, Cecil age 46 and Ethel age 41 lived in Forest City, Holt County, Missouri with Cecil's son Albert age 21 as well as Ethel's children Charlotte Perry age 22, David Perry age 19, and Doris Perry age 19. In 1950, Cecil and Ethel still lived in Forest City, Holt County, Missouri. Cecil Laverne Richardson died on 4 April 1983 in Riverside, California. 

 

Cecil L. Richardson, Maureen Gould, & Ethel Maria (Lease) Richardson

Backstory of the Painting 

    About 12 years ago, Grandpa Gregory Gould was studying portraits in his painting class. He used an old photo of his grandfather by marriage Cecil L. Richardson sitting on a couch as a portrait reference for this painting. Grandpa Greg decided to change the background to a cornfield to honor one of Cecil's businesses in farming. He also owned a hardware store and worked in a lumberyard. Cecil and Ethel would spend the summer in Forest City, Missouri and the winter in Cathedral City, California and later in Riverside, California.  

 

in back: Juanita Garnet (Moorman) Richardson, Albert Elmer Richardson, & Charlotte Isabelle Perry 

in front: Ethel Maria (Lease) Perry Richardson & Cecil Laverne Richardson 

With love, 

Autumn Rose Surratt 

The Ancestor Witch 

Sources 

• "Find a Grave Index", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2G-RRGQ: 7 May 2025), Cecil L Richardson, 4 April 1983, memorial ID #76055128. 
• "Missouri County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ7-G84L: 7 May 2025), C L Richardson and Izeyl Swope, 26 April 1916. 
• "Arkansas County Marriages, 1837-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9WG-Y5H: 7 May 2025), C L Richardson and Ethel Perry, 22 November 1935. 
• "California Death Index, 1940-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGGY-ZJP: 7 May 2025), Cecil L Richardson and Lyons, 4 April 1983. 
• "United States Census, 1900", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3C5-K64: 13 May 2025), William Richardson and Eva F Richardson, 1900. 
• "United States Census, 1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2YW-P16: 13 May 2025), William E Richardson and Eva F Richardson, 1910. 
• "United States Census, 1920", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M84Y-LS4: 13 May 2025), Cecil L Richardson and Izcyl M Richardson, 1920. 
• "United States Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHXB-288: 13 May 2025), William E Richardson and Eva F Richardson, 1930. 
• "United States Census, 1940", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7QV-SJV: 13 May 2025), C L Richardson and Ethel Richardson, 1940. 
• "United States Census. 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FMY-737P: 13 May 2025), Cecil L Richardson and Ethel L Richardson, 24 April 1950.