The newspaper was correct in its findings.  Below is the descendant tree from Mary Bliss Parsons to Marion Michael Morrison.  Information for the tree was gathered from the Bliss genealogy and from the Parsons Family Association site at http://www.parsons-family-assoc.com/

+G1+

 
Thomas Bliss
(abt. 1590)

(?)

Patience Burt
(abt. 1645-1732)

+

John Bliss
(abt. 1635-1705)
Built Mary's House;
Lived Nextdoor

G2

 
Mary Bliss
(abt. 1625-1711)
First Witch of
Northampton
 

+

Joseph Parsons
 (1620-1683)

Johanna Lamb
(1695-1768)

+

Ebenezer Bliss
(1683-1761)

G3

Mary Clark
(1663-?)

+

Jonathan Parsons
(1657-1694)

Catherine Burt
(????-1807)

+

Stephen Bliss
(1732-1807)
Revolutionary War

G4

Abigail Smith
(1695-?)

+

Jonathan Parsons, Jr.
(1693-1782)

Mary Woodworth
(1770-1856)

+

Gideon Bliss
(1766-1847)

G5

Sarah Spencer
(abt. 1726-?)

+

Jonathan C. Parsons III
(abt. 1720-1800)

Lydia Chase
(1795-1872)

+

Roswell E. Bliss
(1791-1869)

G6

Wealthy Chase
(abt. 1755-?)

+

Dr. Medad Parsons
(1754-1818)

Susan Hester Evarts
(1826-18??)

+

Edward Flint Bliss
(1821-18??)

G7

Betsey Buck
(abt. 1794-1827)

+

Eldad Parsons
(1791-1870)

Ellen T. Leavin
(1857-1918)

+

Willard Marquini Bliss
(1850-1916)

G8

Abigail Buck
(1827-1900)

+

Henry Charles Parsons
(1810-1869)

Margaret Johanna Geiger
(1877-1960)

+

Leon Willard Bliss
(1877-1936)

G9

Marion Mitchell Morrison
(1845-1915)

+

Weltha Chase Parsons
(1850-1909)

Charles Keld Hanson
(1908(9)-1956)

+

Violet Ellen Bliss
(1915-1998)

G10

Clyde Leonard Morrison
(1884-1937)

+

Mary Alberta Brown
(1885-?)

Ethel Louisa Hutchins
(1940-)

+

Floyd Bliss Hanson
(1939-)

G11

 
Marion Robert (Mitchell*)
Morrison
(John Wayne)
May 26, 1907
-June 11, 1979

+

 
 
Josephine Saenz
(m. 1933-1945)
 
Esperanza Baur
(m. 1946-1954)
 
Pilar Palette
(m. 1954-1979?)

For an interesting excerpt from the book John Wayne, American,
by Rand Roberts and James Olson: God, Lincoln and the Golden Gate,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/wayne.htm