May Dora Rasey

William Rasey (brother)

Charles Rasey (brother)

Isaac Rasey (brother)

Ellen Rasey (sister)

Clyde Rasey (brother)

Charles Martin Hatfield (husband)

Albert Hatfield (son)

Hiram Hatfield (son)

Edgar Hatfield (son)

Hazel Hatfield (daughter)

Delila Hatfield (daughter)

Jack Hatfield (son)

Charles Hatfield (son)

Theodore Hatfield (son)

Leo Hatfield (son)

Eleanor Hatfield (daughter)

Billie Hatfield (son)

**May Dora Rasey (1890-1968)** was the daughter of Norval Adelbert Rasey and Ellen B. Harding, as well as the sister of William, Charles, Isaac, and Ellen, as well as the biological sister of Clyde, who was adopted by the family of her future husband (Charles Martin Hatfield). She had eleven children with Charles, including Albert, Hiram, Edgar, Hazel, Delila, Jack, Charles, Theodore, Leo, Eleanor, and Billie.

## Biography

May was born on October 10, 1890 in Sallisaw, Indian Territory, Oklahoma to Norval Adelbert Rasey and Ellen B. Harding. She had three older brothers named William, Eugene, and Isaac; she also had two younger siblings named Ellen and Clyde. However, Clyde was adopted by the Hatfield family.

Her parents died in 1899, her mother shortly after Clyde's birth and her father died soon after. The children were briefly taken in by the Hatfield family (Hiram Hatfield and Delila Toler), however, they decided to only adopt Clyde. May and her younger sister Ellen were placed into foster care, however, the two girls were quickly separated as one family couldn't care for two girls. She was tossed around in foster homes. According to FindAGrave, she visited the Hatfield home frequently, and when she saw Charles Hatfield rocking Clyde back and forth, she thought that he would be a good and kind man.

She married Charles Martin Hatfield on June 11, 1907 in Oklahoma. Their first four children (Albert, Hiram, Edgar, & Hazel) were born in Oklahoma, while their next two children (Delila & Jack) were born in Arkansas. In between 1920 and 1923, they moved to Hanford, Kings, California. Their next six children were born in Kings, California.

May died on March 16, 1968 in Hanford, Kings, California. Her cause of death was listed as cirrhosis of liver and generalized arteriosclerosis. She was survived by Charles, brother Clyde, and nine of her eleven children.

## Etymology

* **May** is an English feminine given name. It is derived from the the name of the month, which comes from Maia, the name of a Roman fertility goddess. The name May is also used as a pet form of Mary and Margaret.
* **Dora** is a female name of Greek origin being a shortened form or derived from Dorothea (Dorothy), Theodora, meaning "God's gift." The name *Dora* can also be a shortened form of Isadora, Isidora, and other such compound names. In Albanian, *dora* means "hand." In Russian, Dora can be a diminutive form of the male first name Agafador.
* **Rasey:** Rasey is an English surname and is a variant of the name "Racey."

## Timeline

* **1890:** May was born on October 10 in Sallisaw, Indian Territory, Oklahoma.
* **1893:** Her sister Ellen was born on October 15 in Sallisaw, Sequoyah, Oklahoma. May was 3 years old.
* **1894:** The Genealogical Society of Utah is formed.
* **1897:** Her brother Clyde was born on October 20 in Indiana. May was 7 years old. Clyde would later be adopted by the Hatfield family.
* **1899:** Her father Norval died in Brent, Sequoyah, Oklahoma. May was 9 years old.
* **1899:** Her mother Ellen died in Sallisaw, Sequoyah, Oklahoma.
* **1907:** May married Charles Martin Hatfield on June 11 in Oklahoma. She was 16 years old, and Charles was 23.
* **1908:** Her son Albert was born on December 20 in McClain, Muskogee, Oklahoma. May was 18 when he was born.
* **1909:** The NAACP is formed to advance justice for African Americans.
* **1909:** Her son Hiram was born on December 10 in McClain, Muskogee, Oklahoma. May was 19.
* **1910:** Oklahoma's state capital moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City on June 10.
* **1912:** Her daughter Hazel was born on June 25 in McClain, Oklahoma. May was 21 at the time of her birth.
* **1913:** Her younger sister Ellen died on January 15 in Sequoyah, Oklahoma at the age of 19. May was 22 at the time of her death.
* **1915:** Her son Edgar was born on January 1 in Keefton, Muskogee, Oklahoma. May was 24.
* **1917:** Her daughter Delila was born on September 14 in Scott County, Arkansas. May was 26.
* **1920:** As of 1920, May lived in Coal, Scott, Arkansas according to a Census record.
* **1920:** Her son Jack was born on August 5 in Scott, Arkansas. May was 29.
* **1923:** Her son Charles was born on June 3 in Hanford, Kings, California. May was 32.
* **1925:** Her son Theodore was born on November 10 in Hanford, Kings, California. May was 35 years old.
* **1927:** Her son Leo was born on December 10 in Hanford, Kings, California. May was 37 years old.
* **1930:** As of 1930, May and her family lived in Hanford, Kings, California.
* **1930:** Her daughter Eleanor was born on October 17 in Hanford, Kings, California. May was 40 years old.
* **1933:** Her son Theodore died on November 10 at the age of 8 due to pneumonia. May was 43 years old at the time of his death.
* **1935:** Her son Billie was born on July 28 in Hanford, Kings, California. May was 44 years old.
* **1939:** Her older brother Isaac died in Sallisaw, Sequoyah, Oklahoma at the age of 49 or 50.
* **1940:** According to a Census record, May lived in Hanford Judicial Township, Kings, California in 1940.
* **1945:** Her son Hiram is declared missing in action and dead on January 11; his submarine sunk in Il, Oulun, Laani, Finland. May was 54 years old at the time of his death; Hiram was 35.
* **1947:** Her older brother William died on January 22 in Sallisaw, Sequoyah, Oklahoma at the age of 69. May was 56 at the time of his death.
* **1967:** Her husband Charles died on December 7 in Fresno, California at the age of 83. May was 77 years old.
* **1968:** Her older brother Charlie died on January 16 in Ventura, California at the age of 88. May was 77.
* **1968:** May died on March 16, 1968 in Hanford, Kings, California at the age of 77.