Relationship 131: Richard E. Lawyer & Dorothy E. Seay

Relationship Record 131

Male/Husband} Lawyer, Richard E. (Dick)

Family History} Olson

Female/Wife} Seay, Dorothy E. (Dottie)

Relationship Type} Marriage

Marriage: Date} Exa 2 Oct 1936 M

Place} Church of Our Savior, San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California

Ended: On Date} Exa 3 Jan 1999
By} Death of husband

Source 1}	73 = Interview
Source 2}	279 = Family notes
Source 3}	2197=Newspaper
Source 4}	1430=Marriage rec
Source 5}	87 = Diary
Source 6}	325 = Business dir
Source 7}	326 = Phone book
Source 8}	2198=1940 USA cen
Source 9}	2199=City directory
Source 10}	872 = Voter record
Source 11}	2200=1950 USA cen
Source 12}	2201=Passenger list
Source 13}	862 = Photograph
Source 14}	680 = S.S. record
Source 15}	2202=Obituary

1st Household No.} 849 = San Marino, Los Angeles, California

Photographs} Dottie and Richard at Olson Party

Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock

Date Updated} 26 Jul 2025
Date Created} 1 Jan 1992

Notes: Richard E. Lawyer, 21, married Dorothy Seay, 19, on 2 Oct 1936 in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California. According to the diary of Mary Agnes Noble, they were married in the Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel. They made their home first in Alhambra, than San Marino, and finally Sierra Madre. Both of their first homes as children were in Alhambra, California, on Third Street. He grew up at 30 North Third Street, and her first home was at 218 South Third Street.

In the 1940 U.S. census, Richard E. Lawyer, 24, and his wife, Dorothy E., 22, were living at 2929 Clarence Avenue, San Marino, San Gabriel Twp., Los Angeles, California. He was a manager at the planning mill, and had completed four years of high school. She had completed one year of college.

According to his daughter Linda, Richard served in the military during WW II, and was stationed in Florida. Their two adopted children were both born in Tennessee.

In the 1950 U.S. census, Richard E. Lawyer, 24, and his wife, Dorothy E., 32, were living at 415 E. Orange Grove, Sierra Madre, Los Angeles, California. He was the co-owner of the retail lumber company. Their children were Dennis K., 2, and Linda L., about 7 months. They had a maid, Gwenn Ramage, 18, born in Oklahoma.

By 1952, Richard and Dorothy were listed in the various telephone directories as living in Sierra Madre. He had now become President of the Olson Lumber Company, which was located at 1001 S. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra. The Voter registration records show them listed as Republicans, registered in Alhambra (1936-1938), San Marino (1942-1948), and Sierra Madre (1948-1954). In 1952 they took a trip to Hawaii, sailing home to Los Angeles from Honolulu aboard the S.S. Lurline on 26 Oct 1952.

Richard Dorothy spent some of their retirement years living at their second home in Baja California. In 1994, they attended the 50th Wedding Anniversary party for Don and Frances Olson, in Arcadia. Richard died 3 Jan 1999, probably in Sierra Madre, California, his last residence. There were no services and his burial place is unknown. Dorothy died some time after 2002, and nothing more is known.

Children:

Total # of Children} 2

Seq. # of Primary}

1st Child}	Lawyer, Dennis Keith
2nd Child}	Lawyer, Linda Lee

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