Discover the remarkable life of Hazel Vorice McCord, mother of legendary entertainers Dick Van Dyke and Jerry Van Dyke. Learn about her biography, family, children, and lasting legacy in American entertainment history.
Quick Facts About Hazel Vorice McCord
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hazel Vorice McCord (later Hazel Victoria Van Dyke) |
| Date of Birth | October 6, 1896 |
| Place of Birth | East Lynn, Vermilion County, Illinois, USA |
| Date of Death | September 27, 1992 |
| Place of Death | Baptist Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Age at Death | 95 years old |
| Parents | Charles Cornelius McCord and Adeline Verinda Neal |
| Spouse | Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke (married 1925, died 1975) |
| Children | Dick Van Dyke (born 1925), Jerry Van Dyke (born 1931) |
| Occupation | Stenographer, Educator, Homemaker |
| Grandchildren | Barry Van Dyke, Christian Van Dyke, Stacy Van Dyke, Carrie Beth Van Dyke (Dick’s children); Ronald Van Dyke, Jerri Lynn Dyke, Kelly Jean Van Dyke (Jerry’s children) |
| Burial Location | Sunset Memorial Park, Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois |
| Known For | Matriarch of the Van Dyke entertainment family |
Hazel Vorice McCord Biography: A Life Spanning Nearly a Century
Born at the close of the 19th century, Hazel Vorice McCord lived through some of the most transformative periods in American history. She came into the world in the small farming community of East Lynn, located in Vermilion County, Illinois. Her parents, Charles Cornelius McCord and Adeline Verinda Neal, raised her in an environment centered on family values, hard work, and community bonds.
Growing up in rural Illinois during the turn of the 20th century, Hazel witnessed America’s evolution from gas lamps to electric lights, from horse-drawn buggies to automobiles, and from the Great Depression through two World Wars. These experiences shaped her character, instilling resilience, self-reliance, and an unwavering dedication to family that would define her entire life.
Hazel demonstrated ambition and intelligence early on, pursuing education and professional development at a time when opportunities for women were limited. She worked as a stenographer, a skilled profession that required precision, speed, and focus. Later, she also served as an educator, guiding children with patience and care. These professional roles reflected her character and prepared her for her most important role: mother and mentor to two sons who would become household names.
Hazel Vorice McCord Age and Life Timeline
Throughout her 95 years of life, Hazel Vorice McCord witnessed extraordinary historical changes. She was born in 1896, when William McKinley was president, and passed away in 1992, having lived through 17 different presidencies. Her lifetime spanned the invention of the airplane, the rise of radio and television, the Space Age, and the early days of the internet.
Hazel married Loren Wayne Van Dyke in 1925, the same year her first son, Richard Wayne “Dick” Van Dyke, was born. Six years later, in 1931, she welcomed her second son, Jerry McCord Van Dyke. She spent her later years living with Jerry in Malvern, Arkansas, from 1984 until her death in 1992, just nine days shy of her 96th birthday.
Hazel Vorice McCord as Dick Van Dyke’s Mother: The Foundation of Success
Perhaps Hazel’s most enduring legacy is her role as the mother of Dick Van Dyke, one of America’s most beloved entertainers. Dick Van Dyke himself acknowledged his mother’s profound influence on his life and career. In his memoir, he fondly recalled his relationship with her, describing evenings spent drying dishes while she washed, engaging in conversations that shaped his worldview.
Hazel provided the steady foundation that allowed Dick to pursue his creative passions. She balanced structure with freedom, giving her sons both discipline and encouragement to explore their talents. Her home was filled with laughter, storytelling, and values that nurtured creativity. She believed in her children’s potential even before the world recognized their talents.
Dick was born in West Plains, Missouri, though the family grew up in Danville, Illinois. Hazel’s influence during these formative years became a quiet but powerful force that shaped the man Dick would become. Her parenting philosophy combined love, guidance, and resilience, creating an environment where talent could flourish.
Hazel Vorice McCord Family: Building an Entertainment Dynasty
The Van Dyke family story begins with Hazel and her husband, Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke. Their marriage in 1925 marked the beginning of a partnership that would produce one of America’s most celebrated entertainment families. Loren, described as charming and athletic, worked as a traveling salesman for the Sunshine Biscuit Company. He also played saxophone and clarinet in a jazz band during baseball’s off-season, demonstrating the creative streak that their children would inherit.
Together, Hazel and Loren navigated the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II while raising two energetic, creative boys in Danville, Illinois. Despite Loren’s frequent travels for work, Hazel maintained a stable, nurturing home environment. She worked professionally while managing household responsibilities, demonstrating remarkable balance and self-discipline.
The family’s roots trace back through American history, with Hazel’s side, the McCords, reportedly connected to Captain John Smith, who established the first English colony in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. Dick Van Dyke’s lineage also traces back to Mayflower passenger John Alden, though Hazel herself never emphasized these historical connections, preferring to focus on the present and her children’s future.
Hazel Vorice McCord Children: Nurturing Two Comedy Legends
Hazel Vorice McCord’s greatest accomplishment was raising two sons who would bring joy and laughter to millions of Americans. Her approach to motherhood was characterized by patience, support, and an unwavering belief in her children’s abilities.
Dick Van Dyke (Born 1925)
Richard Wayne “Dick” Van Dyke was born on December 13, 1925, though some records show his birth in early 1926 due to circumstances surrounding his birth. He grew up to become one of the most recognizable faces in American entertainment, starring in “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” and “Diagnosis: Murder.” His career spanned more than seven decades, earning him multiple Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Jerry Van Dyke (Born 1931)
Jerry McCord Van Dyke was born in 1931 and followed in his older brother’s footsteps into comedy and entertainment. He appeared on “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” and most notably as Luther Van Dam on the ABC sitcom “Coach,” for which he received four Emmy nominations. Jerry maintained a close relationship with both his mother and brother throughout his life, eventually providing Hazel a home in her final years.
Both sons credited their upbringing and their mother’s steady influence as vital to their careers. Hazel’s parenting, though unheralded publicly, shaped their resilience, humility, and sense of purpose. Her values of hard work, kindness, and dedication became the foundation upon which her sons built their remarkable careers.
Hazel Vorice McCord Net Worth: A Life Beyond Material Wealth
Unlike her famous sons, Hazel Vorice McCord did not accumulate wealth from public performance or entertainment. Her net worth cannot be measured in traditional financial terms, as she lived a modest life focused on family rather than fortune. She worked as a stenographer and educator, professions that provided stability but not wealth.
However, if we consider legacy as a form of wealth, Hazel’s value is immeasurable. She invested not in stocks or real estate but in her children, her community, and the values she passed down through generations. The Van Dyke family dynasty, now spanning multiple generations of performers, represents the true return on Hazel’s life investment. Her grandchildren include Barry Van Dyke (an actor who appeared in “Diagnosis: Murder”), Christian Van Dyke (a lawyer), Stacy Van Dyke (actress), and Carrie Beth Van Dyke, along with Jerry’s children.
Hazel Vorice McCord Photos and Visual Legacy
Photographs of Hazel Vorice McCord are rare, as she deliberately stayed out of the public spotlight. The few images that exist show a dignified woman with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor. One notable photograph shows Loren Wayne “Cookie” Van Dyke holding his toddler son Dickie Van Dyke around 1927, with Hazel present, capturing a moment of family intimacy before fame changed everything.
Unlike modern celebrity parents who often court public attention, Hazel maintained her privacy throughout her life, even as her sons became household names. This preference for staying behind the scenes speaks to her character—she was content to be the foundation rather than the spotlight, the root system rather than the flower.
Hazel Vorice McCord Lifestyle: Simple Values in Changing Times
Hazel’s lifestyle reflected the values of her generation and upbringing. She lived simply, focused on family, community, and faith. Her days were filled with the responsibilities of work, homemaking, and raising children. Unlike the glamorous lifestyle often associated with Hollywood families, Hazel maintained her small-town sensibilities throughout her life.
She and Loren raised their family in Danville, Illinois, a small town in America’s heartland. Even after her sons achieved fame and fortune, Hazel remained grounded. She continued to live modestly, eventually moving to Malvern, Arkansas, to live with her son Jerry. This move demonstrated the close family bonds she had cultivated throughout her life.
Hazel’s lifestyle was characterized by practicality and purpose. As a stenographer, she worked with precision and attention to detail. As a mother, she balanced discipline with encouragement. As a community member, she contributed through her work in education, touching students’ lives with kindness and wisdom.
Hazel Vorice McCord Private Life: A Woman of Quiet Strength
Hazel Vorice McCord’s private life was marked by the same values that defined her public presence: dignity, dedication, and devotion to family. She married Loren Wayne Van Dyke in 1925, beginning a partnership that lasted until Loren’s death in 1975 at the age of 73. Their marriage endured through economic hardship, wartime separation, and the unique challenges of raising children who became famous.
After Loren passed away following a chronic illness, Hazel spent her final years with her son Jerry in Arkansas. This arrangement demonstrated the strong bonds she had maintained with her children. Both Dick and Jerry remained devoted to their mother throughout their adult lives, frequently acknowledging her influence in interviews and public appearances.
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Hazel’s private life also included her role as grandmother to seven grandchildren and eventually eight great-grandchildren. She witnessed the Van Dyke legacy extend into new generations, with several grandchildren also pursuing careers in entertainment. Her influence rippled through the family tree, shaping values and character traits that continue to define the Van Dyke name.
Despite the fame that surrounded her family, Hazel maintained her privacy and dignity. She avoided the spotlight, preferring to support her sons from behind the scenes. This choice reflected her generation’s values but also her personal preference for a life centered on relationships rather than recognition.
The Legacy of Hazel Vorice McCord: More Than a Famous Mother
Hazel Vorice McCord passed away on September 27, 1992, at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, just nine days before what would have been her 96th birthday. She was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, returning to the community where she had raised her family.
Her death marked the end of a life that spanned nearly a century, but her legacy continues through the generations she influenced. While obituaries identified her primarily as the mother of Dick and Jerry Van Dyke, those who knew her understood that her impact extended far beyond her famous children.
Hazel’s legacy includes the values she instilled in her sons: humility, kindness, perseverance, and the importance of bringing joy to others. Dick Van Dyke’s decades-long career entertaining millions of people, and Jerry Van Dyke’s contributions to American comedy, both trace their roots to the foundation Hazel provided. Her influence can be seen in their work ethic, their treatment of others, and their commitment to their craft.
Remembering Hazel: The Woman Behind the Legacy
Today, Hazel Vorice McCord is remembered as more than just the mother of two entertainment legends. She represents the countless women of her generation who provided the foundation for their children’s success while remaining largely unrecognized by history. Her story reflects love, strength, and adaptability, showing how one woman quietly shaped lives while living through extraordinary times.
Her journey from a small farming community in Illinois to becoming the matriarch of an entertainment dynasty demonstrates the profound impact of steady, loving parenting. She showed that a mother’s guidance can nurture creativity, character, and perseverance, creating ripples that reach across generations.
In celebrating Hazel Vorice McCord’s life, we honor not just the mother of famous entertainers but a woman whose values, dedication, and love shaped the laughter and joy that her family shared with the world. Her story reminds us that the most significant legacies are often built not in the spotlight but in the quiet moments of everyday life—at kitchen sinks, around dinner tables, and in the unwavering support of family.
The Van Dyke family continues to honor Hazel’s memory, ensuring that while she may not have sought fame herself, her contribution to American entertainment history will never be forgotten. Her life proves that extraordinary success often begins with ordinary love, and that the greatest gifts we can give our children are not material possessions but values, support, and belief in their potential.
Hazel Vorice McCord (October 6, 1896 – September 27, 1992) remains an enduring symbol of maternal strength, dedication, and the quiet power of love that shapes generations.
