Odessa Hibler was born in Maypearl, Ellis County, Texas on November 14, 1907 to George Washington and Lula Bates Hibler. She was the youngest of 4 children: Arthur, Ethel, and Reuel Rupert (Doc) Hibler. Almost from birth she had the nickname Toots, which her brother, Doc, gave her. The reason behind that particular nickname has now been lost to history. Very few people knew that her name was Odessa.
Her paternal grandfather, Milton Hibler, married her maternal grandmother, Mattie Poole Bates Hibler when they were both widowed, but years before Toots was born. Her parents and grandparents lived together on the same farm all of Toots' childhood. Around the age of 12, Toots' family moved to Denton, Texas. She attended school there and graduated from North Texas State Normal College, which is now the University of North Texas at Denton. She taught all grades of school in a one-room schoolhouse in the Monument community in Young County, Texas. Her students' parents provided a room for her to live.
On May 7, 1926, in Young County, she married Tige Phinney, whom she had met a few years earlier when her sister, Ethel, married Tige's brother, Glenn. Tige's mother had named him Otis Henry Phinney after his father. His father didn't like that name so they called him Tige after Buster Brown's dog, Tige. Tige and Toots had 2 children, Jackie and Glenn Phinney
During the depression, Toots and Tige shared a home with Gordon and Johnnie Ward. Ward and Marie Spivey lived next door. These three couples made it through the depression together and were lifelong friends.
Toots had six grandchildren and three great grandsons before she died. Soon after her death 2 great granddaughters arrived. She was the epitome of what a stereotypical grandmother is. She made all the holidays special and made a big production out of all the birthdays.
Toots died of congested heart failure after having been sick for a while. She had been a widow for 17 years. She is buried beside Tige, which is next to the Spiveys, and across from the Wards. The three couples that were so close during the depression.
Her paternal grandfather, Milton Hibler, married her maternal grandmother, Mattie Poole Bates Hibler when they were both widowed, but years before Toots was born. Her parents and grandparents lived together on the same farm all of Toots' childhood. Around the age of 12, Toots' family moved to Denton, Texas. She attended school there and graduated from North Texas State Normal College, which is now the University of North Texas at Denton. She taught all grades of school in a one-room schoolhouse in the Monument community in Young County, Texas. Her students' parents provided a room for her to live.
On May 7, 1926, in Young County, she married Tige Phinney, whom she had met a few years earlier when her sister, Ethel, married Tige's brother, Glenn. Tige's mother had named him Otis Henry Phinney after his father. His father didn't like that name so they called him Tige after Buster Brown's dog, Tige. Tige and Toots had 2 children, Jackie and Glenn Phinney
During the depression, Toots and Tige shared a home with Gordon and Johnnie Ward. Ward and Marie Spivey lived next door. These three couples made it through the depression together and were lifelong friends.
Toots had six grandchildren and three great grandsons before she died. Soon after her death 2 great granddaughters arrived. She was the epitome of what a stereotypical grandmother is. She made all the holidays special and made a big production out of all the birthdays.
Toots died of congested heart failure after having been sick for a while. She had been a widow for 17 years. She is buried beside Tige, which is next to the Spiveys, and across from the Wards. The three couples that were so close during the depression.
Odessa Hibler was born in Maypearl, Ellis County, Texas on November 14, 1907 to George Washington and Lula Bates Hibler. She was the youngest of 4 children: Arthur, Ethel, and Reuel Rupert (Doc) Hibler. Almost from birth she had the nickname Toots, which her brother, Doc, gave her. The reason behind that particular nickname has now been lost to history. Very few people knew that her name was Odessa.
Her paternal grandfather, Milton Hibler, married her maternal grandmother, Mattie Poole Bates Hibler when they were both widowed, but years before Toots was born. Her parents and grandparents lived together on the same farm all of Toots' childhood. Around the age of 12, Toots' family moved to Denton, Texas. She attended school there and graduated from North Texas State Normal College, which is now the University of North Texas at Denton. She taught all grades of school in a one-room schoolhouse in the Monument community in Young County, Texas. Her students' parents provided a room for her to live.
On May 7, 1926, in Young County, she married Tige Phinney, whom she had met a few years earlier when her sister, Ethel, married Tige's brother, Glenn. Tige's mother had named him Otis Henry Phinney after his father. His father didn't like that name so they called him Tige after Buster Brown's dog, Tige. Tige and Toots had 2 children, Jackie and Glenn Phinney
During the depression, Toots and Tige shared a home with Gordon and Johnnie Ward. Ward and Marie Spivey lived next door. These three couples made it through the depression together and were lifelong friends.
Toots had six grandchildren and three great grandsons before she died. Soon after her death 2 great granddaughters arrived. She was the epitome of what a stereotypical grandmother is. She made all the holidays special and made a big production out of all the birthdays.
Toots died of congested heart failure after having been sick for a while. She had been a widow for 17 years. She is buried beside Tige, which is next to the Spiveys, and across from the Wards. The three couples that were so close during the depression.
Her paternal grandfather, Milton Hibler, married her maternal grandmother, Mattie Poole Bates Hibler when they were both widowed, but years before Toots was born. Her parents and grandparents lived together on the same farm all of Toots' childhood. Around the age of 12, Toots' family moved to Denton, Texas. She attended school there and graduated from North Texas State Normal College, which is now the University of North Texas at Denton. She taught all grades of school in a one-room schoolhouse in the Monument community in Young County, Texas. Her students' parents provided a room for her to live.
On May 7, 1926, in Young County, she married Tige Phinney, whom she had met a few years earlier when her sister, Ethel, married Tige's brother, Glenn. Tige's mother had named him Otis Henry Phinney after his father. His father didn't like that name so they called him Tige after Buster Brown's dog, Tige. Tige and Toots had 2 children, Jackie and Glenn Phinney
During the depression, Toots and Tige shared a home with Gordon and Johnnie Ward. Ward and Marie Spivey lived next door. These three couples made it through the depression together and were lifelong friends.
Toots had six grandchildren and three great grandsons before she died. Soon after her death 2 great granddaughters arrived. She was the epitome of what a stereotypical grandmother is. She made all the holidays special and made a big production out of all the birthdays.
Toots died of congested heart failure after having been sick for a while. She had been a widow for 17 years. She is buried beside Tige, which is next to the Spiveys, and across from the Wards. The three couples that were so close during the depression.
