Durward Lilly Ii

Durward Herbert Lilly II, known as “Mike” to his friends and family, the son of Durward and Ella Mae, father to Mike, Janet, and James, has passed away on March 26, 2022.  He was preceded in death by his siblings Barbara, Claire, James, Donald, and Marian.  And of course, his loving, and much loved wife, Sandra Sue Jarvis Lilly.  He is survived by his children and grandchildren Christopher, Caroline, Clayton, Jimmy, and Kaylee Blu.  Also left is his sister Carol and numerous nephews and nieces that he loved very much.

Mike was born in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on October 9th, 1938.  As a lifelong resident of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, Mike loved his LA.  When visitors came, Mike would take them on long drives winding through the city’s neighborhoods and spend hours talking about its history, what life was like to grow up with electric cable cars, and how as a teen he would go rabbit hunting in the former orchards of the San Fernando Valley.

As Mike grew up, he was keenly interested in many things.  From acting, to science, to math.  On the acting realm, he was one of the friends of Ricky Nelson on the Ozzy and Harriet show.  For science, he worked as a cartographer and analyst for Shell Oil.  And in math, he worked his way in aerospace from the loading docks of Rocketdyne to the finance and project budget world of Hughes Aircraft.  All this was based on the capacity of his mind and the discipline of his self learning. He had not yet graduated college.

When Mike did graduate college, it was with almost twice the course load necessary. In broad subjects from Geology and Math to Art and Linguistics and with the degree itself in History, focused on modern German history.  As with everything in life, he approached it with intensity and a complete joy of learning and pride in mastering something new. He immediately started his master’s degree in the same subject and completed the course load, but never the thesis.  His family, work, and other interests kept him busy.  He married Sandra in 1969 and spent the next 52 years in the San Fernando Valley and Westlake Village.

He worked at Hughes Aircraft for 27 years, rising through the ranks to be a well respected executive.  He enjoyed it, but not so much he did not want to retire.  Once he did retire, he pursued his passion for history and focused on German language and Weimar Republic art.  His knowledge of the art world became so detailed that auction houses would reach out to him with questions.  At the age of 68, he began employing this art knowledge working with his son James as a video editor and graphic designer.  His skill set brought broad acclaim and he made numerous commercials and advertisements.

Mike continued his pursuit of knowledge until the end of his life, consuming books and building a remarkable library, and continuing to advise and council his family.  The last two months of his life he spent living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and spending time every day with his son James, daughter-in-law Elizabeth and grandchildren Jimmy and Kaylee Blu.  When he passed sons James and Mike, daughter- in- laws Elizabeth and Carol, and grandchildren Christopher, Jimmy, and Kaylee Blu were by his side.

There will be a funeral mass for Mike on Monday, April 25th, at 10:00am.  The mass will be at Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  There will be a celebration of life later in the year in his beloved Los Angeles.

The family requests that instead of flowers donations are made to two organizations that Mike worked hard to support, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and MEND, Meet Each Need with Dignity.

Mike was a man of such fierce intelligence, kindness, humor, and thoughtfulness, the world will forever be a little better for him having been in it.  Requiescat in pace Mike.

Durward Herbert Lilly II, known as “Mike” to his friends and family, the son of Durward and Ella Mae, father to Mike, Janet, and James, has passed away on March 26, 2022.  He was preceded in death by his siblings Barbara, Claire, James, Donald, and Marian.  And of course, his loving, and much loved wife, Sandra Sue Jarvis Lilly.  He is survived by his children and grandchildren Christopher, Caroline, Clayton, Jimmy, and Kaylee Blu.  Also left is his sister Carol and numerous nephews and nieces that he loved very much.

Mike was born in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, on October 9th, 1938.  As a lifelong resident of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, Mike loved his LA.  When visitors came, Mike would take them on long drives winding through the city’s neighborhoods and spend hours talking about its history, what life was like to grow up with electric cable cars, and how as a teen he would go rabbit hunting in the former orchards of the San Fernando Valley.

As Mike grew up, he was keenly interested in many things.  From acting, to science, to math.  On the acting realm, he was one of the friends of Ricky Nelson on the Ozzy and Harriet show.  For science, he worked as a cartographer and analyst for Shell Oil.  And in math, he worked his way in aerospace from the loading docks of Rocketdyne to the finance and project budget world of Hughes Aircraft.  All this was based on the capacity of his mind and the discipline of his self learning. He had not yet graduated college.

When Mike did graduate college, it was with almost twice the course load necessary. In broad subjects from Geology and Math to Art and Linguistics and with the degree itself in History, focused on modern German history.  As with everything in life, he approached it with intensity and a complete joy of learning and pride in mastering something new. He immediately started his master’s degree in the same subject and completed the course load, but never the thesis.  His family, work, and other interests kept him busy.  He married Sandra in 1969 and spent the next 52 years in the San Fernando Valley and Westlake Village.

He worked at Hughes Aircraft for 27 years, rising through the ranks to be a well respected executive.  He enjoyed it, but not so much he did not want to retire.  Once he did retire, he pursued his passion for history and focused on German language and Weimar Republic art.  His knowledge of the art world became so detailed that auction houses would reach out to him with questions.  At the age of 68, he began employing this art knowledge working with his son James as a video editor and graphic designer.  His skill set brought broad acclaim and he made numerous commercials and advertisements.

Mike continued his pursuit of knowledge until the end of his life, consuming books and building a remarkable library, and continuing to advise and council his family.  The last two months of his life he spent living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and spending time every day with his son James, daughter-in-law Elizabeth and grandchildren Jimmy and Kaylee Blu.  When he passed sons James and Mike, daughter- in- laws Elizabeth and Carol, and grandchildren Christopher, Jimmy, and Kaylee Blu were by his side.

There will be a funeral mass for Mike on Monday, April 25th, at 10:00am.  The mass will be at Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  There will be a celebration of life later in the year in his beloved Los Angeles.

The family requests that instead of flowers donations are made to two organizations that Mike worked hard to support, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and MEND, Meet Each Need with Dignity.

Mike was a man of such fierce intelligence, kindness, humor, and thoughtfulness, the world will forever be a little better for him having been in it.  Requiescat in pace Mike.