Dear Brian,
You may have the info you needed by now since you posted your inquery 12 years ago, but just in case you don't thought I would respond. James Willard Lyda was my great grandfather as well. Eugene Lacompt Lyda was my grandfather and my mothers father he was Reginas brother. My mother had a first cousin Richard Ashby. Eugene and Lucille Ator-Lyda divorced when my mother was 3 yo. She lost contact with Eugene but did keep in contact with his family but did lose contact with them a few years later. My mother Mary Ellen was named after her grandmother Mary Shain Lyda. Nice to have had the chance to send this info to you. Lisa