Reigning matriarch of Southern California's pioneering, petroleum wealthy Doheny family. The former Lucy Smith of Pasadena was married in 1914 to Edward Laurence Doheny Jr., only child of Edward L. Doheny, who struck oil in Southern California and Mexico. The couple had 5 children, Lucy, Edward III, William, Patrick and Timothy. The young Doheny's built the legendary Greystone Mansion next to the former Doheny Ranch in Beverly Hills. The Tudor style estate with garages, stables, kennels, service buildings, swimming pool, two tennis courts and English and Italian style gardens cost $3.1 million in 1928, excluding the 19 acres of land. The mansion, which required a household staff of 15 and grounds crew of 20 was designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann. Mrs.Battson lived in Greystone for 26 years. But in 1954 she sold the 410 acre Doheny Ranch to Paul Trousdale, who developed it into Trousdale Estates. She built a smaller mansion nearby and sold Greystone in 1955 to a Chicago industrialist for $1.5 million. The estate became a Beverly Hills city park in 1965 and the American Film Institute occupied the house from 1969-1982. Mrs. Battson's first husband, known as Ned Doheny, lived in the house less than a year before he was fatally shot by his secretary on Feb. 16, 1929. The secretary then killed himself. The young widow served as administrator of Doheny's estate of about $14 million in stock in the Petroleum Securities Corp. Three years later, she married Leigh M. Battson, a San Francisco and Los Angeles financier. Mrs. Battson was a founding member and several term president of the Junior League of Los Angeles, and during World War II was a leader of Naval Aid. She was active in the Los Angeles and Eldorado Country Clubs. Fourteen grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren also survived her.
Reigning matriarch of Southern California's pioneering, petroleum wealthy Doheny family. The former Lucy Smith of Pasadena was married in 1914 to Edward Laurence Doheny Jr., only child of Edward L. Doheny, who struck oil in Southern California and Mexico. The couple had 5 children, Lucy, Edward III, William, Patrick and Timothy. The young Doheny's built the legendary Greystone Mansion next to the former Doheny Ranch in Beverly Hills. The Tudor style estate with garages, stables, kennels, service buildings, swimming pool, two tennis courts and English and Italian style gardens cost $3.1 million in 1928, excluding the 19 acres of land. The mansion, which required a household staff of 15 and grounds crew of 20 was designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann. Mrs.Battson lived in Greystone for 26 years. But in 1954 she sold the 410 acre Doheny Ranch to Paul Trousdale, who developed it into Trousdale Estates. She built a smaller mansion nearby and sold Greystone in 1955 to a Chicago industrialist for $1.5 million. The estate became a Beverly Hills city park in 1965 and the American Film Institute occupied the house from 1969-1982. Mrs. Battson's first husband, known as Ned Doheny, lived in the house less than a year before he was fatally shot by his secretary on Feb. 16, 1929. The secretary then killed himself. The young widow served as administrator of Doheny's estate of about $14 million in stock in the Petroleum Securities Corp. Three years later, she married Leigh M. Battson, a San Francisco and Los Angeles financier. Mrs. Battson was a founding member and several term president of the Junior League of Los Angeles, and during World War II was a leader of Naval Aid. She was active in the Los Angeles and Eldorado Country Clubs. Fourteen grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren also survived her.
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