Individual 20: Bee Ella Hancock

Individual Record 20

Name} Hancock, Bee Ella

Family History} Hancock

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Female

Birth: Date} Exa 22 May 1913

Place} Napa, Napa, California

Marr.: Date} Exa 30 Sep 1934

Place} Carson City, Ormsby, Nevada (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 25 Sep 2005

Place} Napa Nursing Center, Napa, Napa, California

Burial: Date} Exa 28 Sep 2005

Place} Tulocay Mausoleum, Napa, Napa, California

Grave Marker} Yes

Source 1}	85 = Family hstry
Source 2}	522 = Family hstry
Source 3}	848 = Birth record
Source 4}	306 = 1920 USA cen
Source 5}	1722=Newspaper
Source 6}	746 = 1930 USA cen
Source 7}	1723=Newspaper
Source 8}	1724=Newspaper
Source 9}	908 = Marriage
Source 10}	1587=1940 USA cen
Source 11}	1586=1950 USA cen
Source 12}	1725=Newspaper
Source 13}	1600=City directy
Source 14}	1594=Public recd
Source 15}	1599=S.S. record
Source 16}	838 = Obituary
Source 17}	1588=Cemetery rec
Source 18}	701 = Photographs
Source 19	733 = Photographs
Source 20}	734 = Photographs
Source 21}	735 = Photographs
Source 22}	737 = Photographs
Source 23}	915 = Photographs
Source 24}	840 = Interview
Source 25}	600 = Interview
Source 26}	601 = Letters
Source 27}	474 = Xmas card
Source 28}	500 = Xmas card

Parents: } Wilfred Charles Hancock & Nora Agnes Samuels
Relationship No.} 4

1st Household No.} 197 = 1100 West Second Street, Napa

Occupation 1} Registered nurse
   Occupation 2} Secretary
   Occupation 3} Bookkeeper
   Occupation 4} Housewife

Religion/Church}

Spouses: Prime} Lacaze, Henry Julien (Hank)
Total Number of} 1

Notes: Bee Ella Hancock was born 220 May 1913 in Napa, Napa, California. She was the second of four children born to Wilfred Charles Hancock and Nora Agnes Samuels. Her older sister was Leola, born in 1912.

In 1913, her family was living at 1100 West Second Street in Napa. Bee's name at birth was Ella Lucy; however, in later years she legally changed her name to Bee Ella. An amended birth certificate was issued by the Napa County Recorder-County Clerk Office.

Bee and her family moved to Canary Cottage in Calistoga in about 1914. She enjoyed playing in the snow with her sister Leola that winter. Her brother Warren was born there in 1915.

The family returned to Napa two years later and briefly resided at 824 Pine Street. Bee's sister Ruth was born there in 1917. When Bee was about six years old, her family moved to 2425 Second Street in Napa. Bee resided there for nearly 15 years.

In the 1920 U.S. census, Bee, 6, was living with her parents, Wilfred, 27, and Nora A., 27, on Second Street. Her father was an electrician. Her siblings were Leola, 7, Warren, 4, and Ruth, 2. Living with the family was Mildred Samuels, 23, her mother's sister.

Bee took piano lessons from Mrs. Florence Grigsby, and along with her sister Leolo, played in a recital in June 1927. Bee grew up attending the Napa schools. She graduated from the Napa Intermediate School in June 1927, and participated in the graduation ceremony with the Presentation of Class Momentoes.

In the 1930 U.S. census, Bee, 16, was living with her parents, Wilfred, 37, and Nora, 37, on Second Street. Her father was an electrician in a radio store. Her siblings were Leona, 18, Warren, 14, and Ruth 13. She attended Napa Union High School, was a member of the Girls Club, and graduated in June 1931. In January 1932, she entered the Highlands Hospital Nursing School in Oakland, graduating in May 1934. She worked as a registered nurse at Parks Victory Hospital in Napa.

The photos at the right are Bee circa 1931; Bee at home in Napa in 1932 with the Shell storage tanks in the background; Bee with her brother Warren at home in Napa by a car in 1932; and Bee in her nursing uniform

In early September 1934, Bee announced her engagement to Henry Lacaze, and on 30 Sep 1934, they were quietly married in Carson City, Nevada. They immediately drove north as far as Canada on their honeymoon. Upon their return they made their home at 519 Madison Street, Napa.

In the 1940 U.S. census, Bee, 26, and Henry, 31, were living in their Madison Street home. Henry was a truck driver for the Napa Special Delivery office. They owned their home, valued at $3,000. They had two children, Jeanette, 4, and Andrea, 1.

In the 1950 U.S. census, Bee E., 36, and Henry J., 42, were still in their Madison Street home. Henry was now the owner of the trucking company. Their children were Jeanette M., 14, Andrea G., 11, and Ralph J., 5. In the later years, Bee was the bookkeeper and secretary for their Napa Special Delivery and later the Lacaze Trucking businesses until they sold them and retired in 1962.

Bee and Henry were very active in the Napa Buzzsteppers Square Dance Club. They danced all over Northern California and were invited to Canada to dance at the Calgary Stampede. After their retirement, they purchased a travel trailer and traveled throughout the United States. They were members of the Silverado Trailer Club and loved to travel, fish, and dance. Bee's husband Henry died 31 Mar 1972. After his death, Bee enjoyed traveling on cruise ships and going abroad.

The photos at the left show Bee arriving at her daughter's home in Oakville in May 1994; and with her sister Ruth (on right) in March 2002.

Bee went into a nursing home in February 1999 after breaking her hip. She broke her other hip while in recovery there. She was wheelchair bound as of February 2002. She passed away in the Napa Nursing Center on 25 Sep 2005 at age 92 years, 4 months. She is buried with her husband in the Tulocay Mausoleum, Napa, California. .