Mildred's maiden name was "Laughren." She was an only child. This may have been the result of her mother Emma's having experienced chronic illness very early in her life, preventing her from having additional children. Mildred's birth was said to have occurred at home assisted by a midwife at the family residence - a house - at 1513 Wrightwood (Avenue?)
Mildred was born prematurely after seven months of pregnancy, weighing only three and one- half pounds. Unable to survive on her own an incubator was sought to sustain her health, without success. Having learned that incubators were in common use at the Chicago Zoo to assist with the premature births of animals Mildred was thence transported there where she successfully spent her first few weeks of life.
Following the death of her mother Emma in 1907 Mildred took up residence with her father Francis at a local boarding house. Then in 1911, with the discovery that he was terminally ill Mildred's father brought her, on the 1st or 4th of February to the home of his niece Anna Elizabeth Quitmyer, nee Laughren, a farm north of Arlington, Fayette, Iowa. There, custodial and financial arrangements were provided for her upbringing.
The Quitmyer family consisted of Anna, her husband Irvy Ray, and their young daughter Ava Esther, just two years Mildred's junior. During her years there Mildred's keep was sustained by her ailing father who sent the Quitmyers a regular stipend to furnish her with such essentials as clothing and school supplies, among other needs. Following the death of her father in 1912 and with the depletion of Francis's remaining monetary net worth Mildred's living expenses were thence provided by her half-uncle William Kaiser Bonnefoi, a resident of Chicago.
During her years growing up on the Quitmyer farm Mildred attended school regularly with Cousin Ava. Their means of transportation was by horse and buggy to a one-room rural schoolhouse. During her first summer on the farm Mildred was provided music lessons on an organ in the Quitmyer home that was pumped with the feet. The lessons were taught by a musical instructor riding out of central Arlington who traveled through the area by horse and buggy administering lessons to children in the surrounding community. It's been said that both musical and artistic talent ran in the Laughren family. Being seemingly more gifted in art than in music Mildred subsequently received art lessons.
It was decided at some point that Mildred's custodial support be shared by both the Quitmyers and the Bonnefois. So an arrangement was made whereby Mildred spent part of her childhood as a country girl in Iowa and the other part as a city girl in Chicago.
Mildred was considered dainty and winsome by nature who was very outgoing, making friends easily. Her childhood on the Quitmyer farm was wholesome and active, with many happy hours spent engaging in such pastimes as horseback riding, tree climbing in the farm's apple orchard, exploring woods, climbing bluffs, and wading in creeks. Born with a very active fantasy-enriched imagination Mildred's life, while living in Chicago had impressed upon her mind ideas that were new and interesting to her little country playmates. By designing and cutting out paper dolls she staged puppet shows for their amusement.
Upon completion of the eighth grade Mildred received an examination at the Fayette County Seat in all eight of her subjects as a prerequisite for promotion to high school. Having passed she was advanced to the ninth grade. As the school was located over ten miles away in Aurora, Buchanan County, Iowa it became necessary to relocate, and so it was around 1914 that the family moved to Aurora. There they took occupancy of a newly-built house about four and a half miles south of the central part of Aurora. There Mildred attended her first two years of high school.
Editor's Note: Look for census record where Mildred boarded with the Wells family, indicating the time period she was there, the residential address, and family composition.
On 12 March 1916 Mildred was baptized and confirmed in Aurora under the Mormon faith by Elder E. R. Davis of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
During her adolescence "Millie" was regarded as popular among her peers and, despite having gained much weight in her mid-to-late teens was never known to have lacked male admirers. Her last two years of high school were held in Lamont, Buchanan County, Iowa where, due to the great distance it became necessary for her to board away during the week and return home to Aurora on weekends.
Editor's Note: This may be where the Wellses came into the story.
Editor's note: The remainder of Mildred's biography within this memorial is incomplete, with only a rough assemblage of details noted. A continuation leading to a completion of her biography is forthcoming. Signed, Richard Anthony Laughren Ziers, Mildred's grandson, this date of 14 June 2022.
By 7 May 1921 Mildred was residing in Davis County, Missouri. On that date she married George Edward Ziers in Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA. Following their honeymoon they settled into their first home after the 15th of that month at the address of 110 South Fuller Avenue in Independence.
In circa 1929, following the birth of their two children, Margaret June Ziers on 13 June 1922 and Richard Laughren Ziers on 1 May 1925 Mildred and George were separated. In circa late 1930s Mildred married James E. Corcoran in New York, New York.
Following the death of James Corcoran in 1944 Mildred married Alfred Norman Audley, presumably in the United States.
Editor's Note: Mildred's city of death was, in fact "St. Petersburg Beach", not "St. Pete Beach" as the head of her memorial presently indicates. She died of smoke inhailation in her smoke-filled studio apartment at her address of 6552 Gulf Winds Drive where she owned and managed a five-apartment rental complex.
Mildred's body was discovered by one of her tenants, presumably the next morning. Her pet boxer dog died with her of the same cause of death. It was suspected that Mildred fell asleep while smoking a cigarette while lying on a sofa, with the cigarette having slipped from her fingers, dropping into the crevice between the arm rest xand the seat cushion where it smoldered, filling the studio apartment with smoke.
When emergency personnel entered Mildred's dwelling they found her lying face-down upon the floor. This suggested that at one point she may have awoken, and realizing her dire situation tried to escape from the small dwelling. It's also been suggested that since dementia and alsheimers diseases ran on her mother's side of her family she may have suffered the early stages of these diseases which lead to possible confusion and disorientation that culminated in her having fallen asleep holding the cigarette.
An autopsy was thence performed to certify the cause of death. Mildred was cremated at Beach Memorial Chapel in St. Petersburg Beach, Pinellas, Florida.
The whereabouts of Mildred's ashes is unknown at present. Following her wake these ashes are believed to have been retained by her daughter Margaret June Powell, nee Ziers.
Around 2020, during an inquiry made by Mildred's grandson Richard Anthony Laughren Ziers to her eldest grandson James David Powell it was determined that even James -- who was twelve years-of-age when she died -- had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Mildred's ashes. Furthermore, James had no knowledge of any documentation that even suggested as to what ultimately became of these ashes.
Therefore, from what little information is known there are nine presumed possibilities as to the disposition of these ashes, which are as follows:
1. Her ashes were interred at a cremation garden or cemetery somewhere in Florida.
2. Her ashes were scattered off the coast of St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.
3. Her ashes were interred at a cremation garden or cemetery somewhere in New Jersey, the state where both of her two children resided at the time of her death.
4. Her ashes were scattered somewhere off the coast of New Jersey.
5. Her ashes were interred in the backyard garden of her daughter Margaret June Powell, nee Ziers at her home - in 1957 - at 8 Soder Road, North Caldwell, Essex, New Jersey, USA.
6. Her ashes were scattered somewhere on the residential property in 1957 of her daughter Margaret at the aforementioned address.
7. Her ashes were either buried in or scattered upon the graves of her parents Francis / Frank Laughren and Emma Laughren, nee Bonnefoi, born "Bonefey" who were interred at Montrose Cemetery and Crematorium in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA.
8. Her ashes were placed within a crypt , possibly that of her daughter Margaret's in-laws, the Powell family. The location of this suspected crypt is unknown.
9. Her ashes were discretely placed by one of her children within the casket of her first husband, George Edward Ziers following his death on 2 July 1964. He was interred at Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA.
At the time of Mildred's death George had been married to his second wife Grace. Since Mildred's two children were fathered by George it is speculated that one or both of their children may have chosen this burial arrangement for Mildred so as to keep their parents together in the hereafter.
Mildred was born prematurely after seven months of pregnancy, weighing only three and one- half pounds. Unable to survive on her own an incubator was sought to sustain her health, without success. Having learned that incubators were in common use at the Chicago Zoo to assist with the premature births of animals Mildred was thence transported there where she successfully spent her first few weeks of life.
Following the death of her mother Emma in 1907 Mildred took up residence with her father Francis at a local boarding house. Then in 1911, with the discovery that he was terminally ill Mildred's father brought her, on the 1st or 4th of February to the home of his niece Anna Elizabeth Quitmyer, nee Laughren, a farm north of Arlington, Fayette, Iowa. There, custodial and financial arrangements were provided for her upbringing.
The Quitmyer family consisted of Anna, her husband Irvy Ray, and their young daughter Ava Esther, just two years Mildred's junior. During her years there Mildred's keep was sustained by her ailing father who sent the Quitmyers a regular stipend to furnish her with such essentials as clothing and school supplies, among other needs. Following the death of her father in 1912 and with the depletion of Francis's remaining monetary net worth Mildred's living expenses were thence provided by her half-uncle William Kaiser Bonnefoi, a resident of Chicago.
During her years growing up on the Quitmyer farm Mildred attended school regularly with Cousin Ava. Their means of transportation was by horse and buggy to a one-room rural schoolhouse. During her first summer on the farm Mildred was provided music lessons on an organ in the Quitmyer home that was pumped with the feet. The lessons were taught by a musical instructor riding out of central Arlington who traveled through the area by horse and buggy administering lessons to children in the surrounding community. It's been said that both musical and artistic talent ran in the Laughren family. Being seemingly more gifted in art than in music Mildred subsequently received art lessons.
It was decided at some point that Mildred's custodial support be shared by both the Quitmyers and the Bonnefois. So an arrangement was made whereby Mildred spent part of her childhood as a country girl in Iowa and the other part as a city girl in Chicago.
Mildred was considered dainty and winsome by nature who was very outgoing, making friends easily. Her childhood on the Quitmyer farm was wholesome and active, with many happy hours spent engaging in such pastimes as horseback riding, tree climbing in the farm's apple orchard, exploring woods, climbing bluffs, and wading in creeks. Born with a very active fantasy-enriched imagination Mildred's life, while living in Chicago had impressed upon her mind ideas that were new and interesting to her little country playmates. By designing and cutting out paper dolls she staged puppet shows for their amusement.
Upon completion of the eighth grade Mildred received an examination at the Fayette County Seat in all eight of her subjects as a prerequisite for promotion to high school. Having passed she was advanced to the ninth grade. As the school was located over ten miles away in Aurora, Buchanan County, Iowa it became necessary to relocate, and so it was around 1914 that the family moved to Aurora. There they took occupancy of a newly-built house about four and a half miles south of the central part of Aurora. There Mildred attended her first two years of high school.
Editor's Note: Look for census record where Mildred boarded with the Wells family, indicating the time period she was there, the residential address, and family composition.
On 12 March 1916 Mildred was baptized and confirmed in Aurora under the Mormon faith by Elder E. R. Davis of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
During her adolescence "Millie" was regarded as popular among her peers and, despite having gained much weight in her mid-to-late teens was never known to have lacked male admirers. Her last two years of high school were held in Lamont, Buchanan County, Iowa where, due to the great distance it became necessary for her to board away during the week and return home to Aurora on weekends.
Editor's Note: This may be where the Wellses came into the story.
Editor's note: The remainder of Mildred's biography within this memorial is incomplete, with only a rough assemblage of details noted. A continuation leading to a completion of her biography is forthcoming. Signed, Richard Anthony Laughren Ziers, Mildred's grandson, this date of 14 June 2022.
By 7 May 1921 Mildred was residing in Davis County, Missouri. On that date she married George Edward Ziers in Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA. Following their honeymoon they settled into their first home after the 15th of that month at the address of 110 South Fuller Avenue in Independence.
In circa 1929, following the birth of their two children, Margaret June Ziers on 13 June 1922 and Richard Laughren Ziers on 1 May 1925 Mildred and George were separated. In circa late 1930s Mildred married James E. Corcoran in New York, New York.
Following the death of James Corcoran in 1944 Mildred married Alfred Norman Audley, presumably in the United States.
Editor's Note: Mildred's city of death was, in fact "St. Petersburg Beach", not "St. Pete Beach" as the head of her memorial presently indicates. She died of smoke inhailation in her smoke-filled studio apartment at her address of 6552 Gulf Winds Drive where she owned and managed a five-apartment rental complex.
Mildred's body was discovered by one of her tenants, presumably the next morning. Her pet boxer dog died with her of the same cause of death. It was suspected that Mildred fell asleep while smoking a cigarette while lying on a sofa, with the cigarette having slipped from her fingers, dropping into the crevice between the arm rest xand the seat cushion where it smoldered, filling the studio apartment with smoke.
When emergency personnel entered Mildred's dwelling they found her lying face-down upon the floor. This suggested that at one point she may have awoken, and realizing her dire situation tried to escape from the small dwelling. It's also been suggested that since dementia and alsheimers diseases ran on her mother's side of her family she may have suffered the early stages of these diseases which lead to possible confusion and disorientation that culminated in her having fallen asleep holding the cigarette.
An autopsy was thence performed to certify the cause of death. Mildred was cremated at Beach Memorial Chapel in St. Petersburg Beach, Pinellas, Florida.
The whereabouts of Mildred's ashes is unknown at present. Following her wake these ashes are believed to have been retained by her daughter Margaret June Powell, nee Ziers.
Around 2020, during an inquiry made by Mildred's grandson Richard Anthony Laughren Ziers to her eldest grandson James David Powell it was determined that even James -- who was twelve years-of-age when she died -- had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Mildred's ashes. Furthermore, James had no knowledge of any documentation that even suggested as to what ultimately became of these ashes.
Therefore, from what little information is known there are nine presumed possibilities as to the disposition of these ashes, which are as follows:
1. Her ashes were interred at a cremation garden or cemetery somewhere in Florida.
2. Her ashes were scattered off the coast of St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.
3. Her ashes were interred at a cremation garden or cemetery somewhere in New Jersey, the state where both of her two children resided at the time of her death.
4. Her ashes were scattered somewhere off the coast of New Jersey.
5. Her ashes were interred in the backyard garden of her daughter Margaret June Powell, nee Ziers at her home - in 1957 - at 8 Soder Road, North Caldwell, Essex, New Jersey, USA.
6. Her ashes were scattered somewhere on the residential property in 1957 of her daughter Margaret at the aforementioned address.
7. Her ashes were either buried in or scattered upon the graves of her parents Francis / Frank Laughren and Emma Laughren, nee Bonnefoi, born "Bonefey" who were interred at Montrose Cemetery and Crematorium in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA.
8. Her ashes were placed within a crypt , possibly that of her daughter Margaret's in-laws, the Powell family. The location of this suspected crypt is unknown.
9. Her ashes were discretely placed by one of her children within the casket of her first husband, George Edward Ziers following his death on 2 July 1964. He was interred at Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA.
At the time of Mildred's death George had been married to his second wife Grace. Since Mildred's two children were fathered by George it is speculated that one or both of their children may have chosen this burial arrangement for Mildred so as to keep their parents together in the hereafter.
Mildred's maiden name was "Laughren." She was an only child. This may have been the result of her mother Emma's having experienced chronic illness very early in her life, preventing her from having additional children. Mildred's birth was said to have occurred at home assisted by a midwife at the family residence - a house - at 1513 Wrightwood (Avenue?)
Mildred was born prematurely after seven months of pregnancy, weighing only three and one- half pounds. Unable to survive on her own an incubator was sought to sustain her health, without success. Having learned that incubators were in common use at the Chicago Zoo to assist with the premature births of animals Mildred was thence transported there where she successfully spent her first few weeks of life.
Following the death of her mother Emma in 1907 Mildred took up residence with her father Francis at a local boarding house. Then in 1911, with the discovery that he was terminally ill Mildred's father brought her, on the 1st or 4th of February to the home of his niece Anna Elizabeth Quitmyer, nee Laughren, a farm north of Arlington, Fayette, Iowa. There, custodial and financial arrangements were provided for her upbringing.
The Quitmyer family consisted of Anna, her husband Irvy Ray, and their young daughter Ava Esther, just two years Mildred's junior. During her years there Mildred's keep was sustained by her ailing father who sent the Quitmyers a regular stipend to furnish her with such essentials as clothing and school supplies, among other needs. Following the death of her father in 1912 and with the depletion of Francis's remaining monetary net worth Mildred's living expenses were thence provided by her half-uncle William Kaiser Bonnefoi, a resident of Chicago.
During her years growing up on the Quitmyer farm Mildred attended school regularly with Cousin Ava. Their means of transportation was by horse and buggy to a one-room rural schoolhouse. During her first summer on the farm Mildred was provided music lessons on an organ in the Quitmyer home that was pumped with the feet. The lessons were taught by a musical instructor riding out of central Arlington who traveled through the area by horse and buggy administering lessons to children in the surrounding community. It's been said that both musical and artistic talent ran in the Laughren family. Being seemingly more gifted in art than in music Mildred subsequently received art lessons.
It was decided at some point that Mildred's custodial support be shared by both the Quitmyers and the Bonnefois. So an arrangement was made whereby Mildred spent part of her childhood as a country girl in Iowa and the other part as a city girl in Chicago.
Mildred was considered dainty and winsome by nature who was very outgoing, making friends easily. Her childhood on the Quitmyer farm was wholesome and active, with many happy hours spent engaging in such pastimes as horseback riding, tree climbing in the farm's apple orchard, exploring woods, climbing bluffs, and wading in creeks. Born with a very active fantasy-enriched imagination Mildred's life, while living in Chicago had impressed upon her mind ideas that were new and interesting to her little country playmates. By designing and cutting out paper dolls she staged puppet shows for their amusement.
Upon completion of the eighth grade Mildred received an examination at the Fayette County Seat in all eight of her subjects as a prerequisite for promotion to high school. Having passed she was advanced to the ninth grade. As the school was located over ten miles away in Aurora, Buchanan County, Iowa it became necessary to relocate, and so it was around 1914 that the family moved to Aurora. There they took occupancy of a newly-built house about four and a half miles south of the central part of Aurora. There Mildred attended her first two years of high school.
Editor's Note: Look for census record where Mildred boarded with the Wells family, indicating the time period she was there, the residential address, and family composition.
On 12 March 1916 Mildred was baptized and confirmed in Aurora under the Mormon faith by Elder E. R. Davis of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
During her adolescence "Millie" was regarded as popular among her peers and, despite having gained much weight in her mid-to-late teens was never known to have lacked male admirers. Her last two years of high school were held in Lamont, Buchanan County, Iowa where, due to the great distance it became necessary for her to board away during the week and return home to Aurora on weekends.
Editor's Note: This may be where the Wellses came into the story.
Editor's note: The remainder of Mildred's biography within this memorial is incomplete, with only a rough assemblage of details noted. A continuation leading to a completion of her biography is forthcoming. Signed, Richard Anthony Laughren Ziers, Mildred's grandson, this date of 14 June 2022.
By 7 May 1921 Mildred was residing in Davis County, Missouri. On that date she married George Edward Ziers in Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA. Following their honeymoon they settled into their first home after the 15th of that month at the address of 110 South Fuller Avenue in Independence.
In circa 1929, following the birth of their two children, Margaret June Ziers on 13 June 1922 and Richard Laughren Ziers on 1 May 1925 Mildred and George were separated. In circa late 1930s Mildred married James E. Corcoran in New York, New York.
Following the death of James Corcoran in 1944 Mildred married Alfred Norman Audley, presumably in the United States.
Editor's Note: Mildred's city of death was, in fact "St. Petersburg Beach", not "St. Pete Beach" as the head of her memorial presently indicates. She died of smoke inhailation in her smoke-filled studio apartment at her address of 6552 Gulf Winds Drive where she owned and managed a five-apartment rental complex.
Mildred's body was discovered by one of her tenants, presumably the next morning. Her pet boxer dog died with her of the same cause of death. It was suspected that Mildred fell asleep while smoking a cigarette while lying on a sofa, with the cigarette having slipped from her fingers, dropping into the crevice between the arm rest xand the seat cushion where it smoldered, filling the studio apartment with smoke.
When emergency personnel entered Mildred's dwelling they found her lying face-down upon the floor. This suggested that at one point she may have awoken, and realizing her dire situation tried to escape from the small dwelling. It's also been suggested that since dementia and alsheimers diseases ran on her mother's side of her family she may have suffered the early stages of these diseases which lead to possible confusion and disorientation that culminated in her having fallen asleep holding the cigarette.
An autopsy was thence performed to certify the cause of death. Mildred was cremated at Beach Memorial Chapel in St. Petersburg Beach, Pinellas, Florida.
The whereabouts of Mildred's ashes is unknown at present. Following her wake these ashes are believed to have been retained by her daughter Margaret June Powell, nee Ziers.
Around 2020, during an inquiry made by Mildred's grandson Richard Anthony Laughren Ziers to her eldest grandson James David Powell it was determined that even James -- who was twelve years-of-age when she died -- had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Mildred's ashes. Furthermore, James had no knowledge of any documentation that even suggested as to what ultimately became of these ashes.
Therefore, from what little information is known there are nine presumed possibilities as to the disposition of these ashes, which are as follows:
1. Her ashes were interred at a cremation garden or cemetery somewhere in Florida.
2. Her ashes were scattered off the coast of St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.
3. Her ashes were interred at a cremation garden or cemetery somewhere in New Jersey, the state where both of her two children resided at the time of her death.
4. Her ashes were scattered somewhere off the coast of New Jersey.
5. Her ashes were interred in the backyard garden of her daughter Margaret June Powell, nee Ziers at her home - in 1957 - at 8 Soder Road, North Caldwell, Essex, New Jersey, USA.
6. Her ashes were scattered somewhere on the residential property in 1957 of her daughter Margaret at the aforementioned address.
7. Her ashes were either buried in or scattered upon the graves of her parents Francis / Frank Laughren and Emma Laughren, nee Bonnefoi, born "Bonefey" who were interred at Montrose Cemetery and Crematorium in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA.
8. Her ashes were placed within a crypt , possibly that of her daughter Margaret's in-laws, the Powell family. The location of this suspected crypt is unknown.
9. Her ashes were discretely placed by one of her children within the casket of her first husband, George Edward Ziers following his death on 2 July 1964. He was interred at Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA.
At the time of Mildred's death George had been married to his second wife Grace. Since Mildred's two children were fathered by George it is speculated that one or both of their children may have chosen this burial arrangement for Mildred so as to keep their parents together in the hereafter.
Mildred was born prematurely after seven months of pregnancy, weighing only three and one- half pounds. Unable to survive on her own an incubator was sought to sustain her health, without success. Having learned that incubators were in common use at the Chicago Zoo to assist with the premature births of animals Mildred was thence transported there where she successfully spent her first few weeks of life.
Following the death of her mother Emma in 1907 Mildred took up residence with her father Francis at a local boarding house. Then in 1911, with the discovery that he was terminally ill Mildred's father brought her, on the 1st or 4th of February to the home of his niece Anna Elizabeth Quitmyer, nee Laughren, a farm north of Arlington, Fayette, Iowa. There, custodial and financial arrangements were provided for her upbringing.
The Quitmyer family consisted of Anna, her husband Irvy Ray, and their young daughter Ava Esther, just two years Mildred's junior. During her years there Mildred's keep was sustained by her ailing father who sent the Quitmyers a regular stipend to furnish her with such essentials as clothing and school supplies, among other needs. Following the death of her father in 1912 and with the depletion of Francis's remaining monetary net worth Mildred's living expenses were thence provided by her half-uncle William Kaiser Bonnefoi, a resident of Chicago.
During her years growing up on the Quitmyer farm Mildred attended school regularly with Cousin Ava. Their means of transportation was by horse and buggy to a one-room rural schoolhouse. During her first summer on the farm Mildred was provided music lessons on an organ in the Quitmyer home that was pumped with the feet. The lessons were taught by a musical instructor riding out of central Arlington who traveled through the area by horse and buggy administering lessons to children in the surrounding community. It's been said that both musical and artistic talent ran in the Laughren family. Being seemingly more gifted in art than in music Mildred subsequently received art lessons.
It was decided at some point that Mildred's custodial support be shared by both the Quitmyers and the Bonnefois. So an arrangement was made whereby Mildred spent part of her childhood as a country girl in Iowa and the other part as a city girl in Chicago.
Mildred was considered dainty and winsome by nature who was very outgoing, making friends easily. Her childhood on the Quitmyer farm was wholesome and active, with many happy hours spent engaging in such pastimes as horseback riding, tree climbing in the farm's apple orchard, exploring woods, climbing bluffs, and wading in creeks. Born with a very active fantasy-enriched imagination Mildred's life, while living in Chicago had impressed upon her mind ideas that were new and interesting to her little country playmates. By designing and cutting out paper dolls she staged puppet shows for their amusement.
Upon completion of the eighth grade Mildred received an examination at the Fayette County Seat in all eight of her subjects as a prerequisite for promotion to high school. Having passed she was advanced to the ninth grade. As the school was located over ten miles away in Aurora, Buchanan County, Iowa it became necessary to relocate, and so it was around 1914 that the family moved to Aurora. There they took occupancy of a newly-built house about four and a half miles south of the central part of Aurora. There Mildred attended her first two years of high school.
Editor's Note: Look for census record where Mildred boarded with the Wells family, indicating the time period she was there, the residential address, and family composition.
On 12 March 1916 Mildred was baptized and confirmed in Aurora under the Mormon faith by Elder E. R. Davis of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
During her adolescence "Millie" was regarded as popular among her peers and, despite having gained much weight in her mid-to-late teens was never known to have lacked male admirers. Her last two years of high school were held in Lamont, Buchanan County, Iowa where, due to the great distance it became necessary for her to board away during the week and return home to Aurora on weekends.
Editor's Note: This may be where the Wellses came into the story.
Editor's note: The remainder of Mildred's biography within this memorial is incomplete, with only a rough assemblage of details noted. A continuation leading to a completion of her biography is forthcoming. Signed, Richard Anthony Laughren Ziers, Mildred's grandson, this date of 14 June 2022.
By 7 May 1921 Mildred was residing in Davis County, Missouri. On that date she married George Edward Ziers in Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA. Following their honeymoon they settled into their first home after the 15th of that month at the address of 110 South Fuller Avenue in Independence.
In circa 1929, following the birth of their two children, Margaret June Ziers on 13 June 1922 and Richard Laughren Ziers on 1 May 1925 Mildred and George were separated. In circa late 1930s Mildred married James E. Corcoran in New York, New York.
Following the death of James Corcoran in 1944 Mildred married Alfred Norman Audley, presumably in the United States.
Editor's Note: Mildred's city of death was, in fact "St. Petersburg Beach", not "St. Pete Beach" as the head of her memorial presently indicates. She died of smoke inhailation in her smoke-filled studio apartment at her address of 6552 Gulf Winds Drive where she owned and managed a five-apartment rental complex.
Mildred's body was discovered by one of her tenants, presumably the next morning. Her pet boxer dog died with her of the same cause of death. It was suspected that Mildred fell asleep while smoking a cigarette while lying on a sofa, with the cigarette having slipped from her fingers, dropping into the crevice between the arm rest xand the seat cushion where it smoldered, filling the studio apartment with smoke.
When emergency personnel entered Mildred's dwelling they found her lying face-down upon the floor. This suggested that at one point she may have awoken, and realizing her dire situation tried to escape from the small dwelling. It's also been suggested that since dementia and alsheimers diseases ran on her mother's side of her family she may have suffered the early stages of these diseases which lead to possible confusion and disorientation that culminated in her having fallen asleep holding the cigarette.
An autopsy was thence performed to certify the cause of death. Mildred was cremated at Beach Memorial Chapel in St. Petersburg Beach, Pinellas, Florida.
The whereabouts of Mildred's ashes is unknown at present. Following her wake these ashes are believed to have been retained by her daughter Margaret June Powell, nee Ziers.
Around 2020, during an inquiry made by Mildred's grandson Richard Anthony Laughren Ziers to her eldest grandson James David Powell it was determined that even James -- who was twelve years-of-age when she died -- had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Mildred's ashes. Furthermore, James had no knowledge of any documentation that even suggested as to what ultimately became of these ashes.
Therefore, from what little information is known there are nine presumed possibilities as to the disposition of these ashes, which are as follows:
1. Her ashes were interred at a cremation garden or cemetery somewhere in Florida.
2. Her ashes were scattered off the coast of St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.
3. Her ashes were interred at a cremation garden or cemetery somewhere in New Jersey, the state where both of her two children resided at the time of her death.
4. Her ashes were scattered somewhere off the coast of New Jersey.
5. Her ashes were interred in the backyard garden of her daughter Margaret June Powell, nee Ziers at her home - in 1957 - at 8 Soder Road, North Caldwell, Essex, New Jersey, USA.
6. Her ashes were scattered somewhere on the residential property in 1957 of her daughter Margaret at the aforementioned address.
7. Her ashes were either buried in or scattered upon the graves of her parents Francis / Frank Laughren and Emma Laughren, nee Bonnefoi, born "Bonefey" who were interred at Montrose Cemetery and Crematorium in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA.
8. Her ashes were placed within a crypt , possibly that of her daughter Margaret's in-laws, the Powell family. The location of this suspected crypt is unknown.
9. Her ashes were discretely placed by one of her children within the casket of her first husband, George Edward Ziers following his death on 2 July 1964. He was interred at Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Jackson, Missouri, USA.
At the time of Mildred's death George had been married to his second wife Grace. Since Mildred's two children were fathered by George it is speculated that one or both of their children may have chosen this burial arrangement for Mildred so as to keep their parents together in the hereafter.
Gravesite Details
The location of her ashes is unknown.
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
