Hazel Vorice McCord was born on October 6, 1896, in East Lynn, Illinois, and led an extraordinary life with love, strength, and silent determination. Charles Cornelius McCord and Adeline Verinda Neal had a newborn daughter, and she was raised in a good family, which taught her the principles of being a hardworking person and giving back to society. She married Loren Cookie Van Dyke in 1920, and they had two sons, Dick and Jerry Van Dyke, who would go on to become household names in American entertainment.
As her children became known all around the world, Hazel preferred a more low-profile life, centered around family and religion. She was able to observe so much change in history, beginning with the horse-and-buggy age and the emergence of television, and still being bound to the earth. Hazel died when he was 95 years old in 1992 and was buried in Danville, Illinois. Her legacy lives on not by fame but by the laughter, goodwill, and innovations brought into the world by her children.
Childhood: Southside of East Lynn, Illinois
Hazel Vorice McCord was born to parents in the East Lynn farming community of Vermilion County, Illinois, on the 6th of October 1896. She was brought up in a small community setting characteristic of a rural American family at the turn of the century and was the daughter of Charles Cornelius McCord and Adeline Verinda (Neal) McCord. Lola AppFind A Grave. Records on her year of birth differ between the years 1896 and 1897, but the consensus, going by Blue Business Trends, is that she was born in 1896.
Family Foundations
Hazel was raised with at least one sibling, Neal Albert McCord, and with others of whom little is written. A Grave. Growing up in Vermilion County possibly informed her of the importance of community, endurance, and care—qualities that would translate into her later years.
Marriage and Motherhood
Around 1924–1925, Hazel married Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke, a traveling salesman with the Sunshine Biscuit Company. They settled in Danville, Illinois, where Hazel resumed her work as a stenographer and took up motherhood.
Raising Two Stars
- Hazel and Loren had two sons:
- Richard Wayne (Dick) Van Dyke, born in 1925.
- Jerry McCord Van Dyke, born in 1931.
In the family house, Hazel created a vibrant, imaginative environment, one filled with affection, support, and fledgling performances that would become the springboard of her sons’ later careers in show business.
A Life through historic change
- The life of Hazel was a time of unprecedented change:
- She was born when roads were still dominated by horse-drawn carriages.
- She also saw the use of electricity, cars, radio, and television.
- She was raised in an era of two world wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and the beginning of the digital era.
Hazel also witnessed other milestones, such as women getting the right to vote in 1920, personal communications replacing telegrams with telephones, and families sitting around black and white TVs even before smartphones were invented.
During these transitions, she stood by the values instilled in her youth: family, integrity, and silent fortitude.
A Secret Life that came to bear on Famous Life
Hazel was not a seeker of attention, although her sons were famous on the stage and the screen. She had been working in the background and quietly served her family without quite hitting the limelight.
By 1984, Hazel was residing with her son, Jerry, in Malvern, Arkansas. It was there that she spent her last years in the peaceful comfort of closeness to family.
Act IV, Final: Her Death and Burial
In Little Rock, Arkansas, Hazel died on September 27, 1992, at age 95, at the Baptist Medical Centre. She was buried in Sunset Memorial Park, Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois—a poetic coming home.
Her Enduring Legacy
Although Hazel did not live to see publicity, her legacy was carried on through her sons, Dick and Jerry Van Dyke—both legendary heroes in American comedy and entertainment. Dick Van Dyke won numerous awards, including a Golden Globe, a Tony, a Grammy, a Daytime Emmy, and four Primetime Emmy Awards, which later earned him a spot in the Television Hall of Fame (1995) and Hollywood Walk of Fame (2012).
Summary Table
| Life Aspect | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Birth | October 6, 1896, East Lynn, Vermilion County, Illinois |
| Parents | Charles Cornelius McCord and Adeline Verinda Neal |
| Spouse | Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke (m. ~1925) |
| Children | Dick Van Dyke (b. 1925), Jerry Van Dyke (b. 1931) |
| Profession | Stenographer, homemaker |
| Lived Through | Voting rights, World Wars, Depression, technological and social change |
| Residence | Danville, IL → Malvern, AR (1984) → Little Rock, AR |
| Died | September 27, 1992, Little Rock, Arkansas, age 95 |
| Burial | Sunset Memorial Park, Danville, IL |
| Legacy | Matriarch to comedic icons; influence lived through sons’ entertainment |
Conclusion: A Life That Made a Dynasty In Silence
Fostering greatness by simple beginnings and nurturing it through love, values, and unswerving encouragement is a lesson in her life. Hazel is not judged by the number of headlines or awards, but one can judge her by the millions of happy and laughing children that she gave to the world. You can find out more on my site, techplusemag.