Ratay-Johnstone Ancestors - Person Sheet
Ratay-Johnstone Ancestors - Person Sheet
NameLewis Franklin HYMERS
Birth8 May 1892, Nevada
Death4 Feb 1953, Tujunga, California7331
Burial7 Feb 19537331
OccupationArtist, cartoonist, illustrator
EducationUniversity of Nevada, California Military Academy, Best’s School of Art
ReligionCongregational
Alias/AKAHy
FatherGeorge B. HYMERS (1865-1906)
MotherAnna BECKER (1868-1923)
Spouses
Birth4 Jun 1896, Gardnerville, Douglas County, Nevada2700
Death14 Aug 1971, Reno, Washoe County, Nevada2700,7332
BurialCremation: Mountain View Crematory
Marriage1 Jul 1917, Reno, Washoe County, Nevada7333
Marr Memoarticle
Obituary notes for Lewis Franklin HYMERS
Reno Evening Gazette, 5 February 1953, p. 9
Lewis A. Hymers, Widely Known Artist Succumbs


Lewis A. Hymers, widely know Nevada artist, whose “Seen About Town” cartoons were a Saturday feature of the Reno Evening Gazette until about 1946, died Wednesday at his home in Tujunga, Calif. He had suffered a stroke about a year ago and had been confined to his home since that time.

Funeral services are to be held at Tujunga, at the Bade and Son mortuary, 10177 Tujunga Canyon blvd., Saturday at 2 p.m.

Widely Used Art
Mr. Hymers, one of the best known Pacific coast artists, was a very prolific cartoonist and during his years in Reno turned out countless drawings, etching and line drawings which still adorn menus, chamber of commerce publicity material and other advertising cuts and signs in the Reno area. His signature of “Hy” was well know throughout the west. He also illustrated several University of Nevada Artemisia yearbooks.

A native of Reno, Mr. Hymers was 60 years of age. He was the son of George and Annie Becker Hymers, and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. T.K. Hymers, who were among Reno’s pioneer residents.

Educated in the Reno schools and briefly at the University of Nevada, Mr. Hymers also trained at a California military academy. In early youth he demonstrated a great ability as an artist, and he followed that vocation all of his natural life. He attended Best’s school of art in San Francisco and while there was connected with the art staff of the San Francisco Chronicle.

He later studied art in Europe, first in France and then in Germany.

Start of Feature
When Mr. Hymers returned to Reno, he started popular “Seen About Town” cartoons at the request of the late Graham Stanford for the Gazette. This popular feature led to a job a few years later as art director and cartoonist for the Washington Post in Washington, D.C.

He remained there for three years but Mr. Hymers felt this was long enough to remain away from the west so he returned to Reno for a brief stay before going to Hollywood where the lure of animated cartooning attracted him. He was one of the early day artists to engage in his work and was employed with Walt Disney, who was just beginning the line of work which brought him fame and fortune and several movie “Oscars.”

Later Mr. Hymers left this work to become art director for a chain store publication “Chain Store Manager,” and remained there for five years. Seeking more independence and the opportunity to develop his commercial cartooning ability, he opened a studio in Los Angeles and a free-lance artist produced advertising cartoons for Sunkist, Safeway Stores, First National Pictures, California Oil and Gas association, the Los Angeles Examiner and other businesses.

Returns to Nevada
This proved a lucrative business but he and his wife, the former Lola Jepsen of Minden, decided to return to Nevada where the artist could carry on his commercial art work and still enjoy his hobbies as a farmer and poultry raiser.

Mr. and Mrs. Hymers established a home in Genoa and remained there for several years before moving their home to Reno on West Plumb lane.

He opened offices in the Hall building on East First street and resumed his “Seen About Town” cartoons as a regular Saturday feature in the Reno Evening Gazette.

Three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Hymers returned to Tujunga where they owned a home and until his illness Mr. Hymers continued to do commercial art work.

Mr. Hymers was a past master of Douglas lodge No. 12, F. and A.M. of Genoa.

Besides his wife he leaves several cousins residing in Reno. He was the brother-in-law of H.R. Jepsen, county clerk and treasurer of Douglas county, and of Mrs. William Clark of Sparks.
Notes for Lewis Franklin & Lola Pauline (Family)
Reno Evening Gazette 6 July 1917
In World of Society


A wedding that comes as a great surprise to many friends of the young couple in Reno and Gardnerville, was solemnized Sunday night at the Congregational parsonage by Rev. W.D. Trout when he performed the ceremony that made Miss Lola Pauline Jepsen the wife of Mr. Lewis Hymers. Only relatives of the young couple were present and none of their many friends was told of the secret until last night. The bride is a Gardnerville girl but has lived in Reno for some time and in [sic] secretary to Frank M. Manson, manager of the Western Ore Purchasing Company. Lewis Hymers is one of the best known young men in Reno, having lived here all his life. He is the son of Mrs. Anna Hymers and is connected with the Gazette’s art department. Mr. and Mrs. Hymers will make their home in one of the new McGinty bungalows on Ralston street.
Last Modified 22 Jun 2012Created 26 Aug 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh
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Research done and sourced whenever possible by Nancy L. Ratay or Myra S. Ratay. Other contributors noted in sources. Please verify information yourself as this is a work in progress. Last updated August 2022.