Mother's parents, the RIcketts

This is how my grandparents looked late in their lives.  Grandmother RIcketts lived to be 90.  That is her in the first picture.  Second is Mother with them both, then Donald and Ruth in 1959, and last Grandmother in her own home in Hooks, Texas.

They lived for many years in a tiny house in Hooks because Granddaddy worked for the Red River Arsenal nearby.  By the time these pictures were made, he had retired.

Both were fond of me and treated me with respect.  Their home was small but they always welcomed as many of us as could squeeze into it.

My grandparents' courtship

Not in the best of condition, but I do love this picture of Ruth (standing on left) and Donald, looking back over his shoulder at her.  Her smile shows the affection she held for him, I think.

Both women wear the large, unusual hats of the era which was 1912.  Ruth's hat appears to have an entire bird's wing applied to it on her left side. The bow on the friend's hat at right is unbelievable, isn't it?

Donald and Ruth about 1954

 Ruth and Donald had three daughters:  Anna Louise, the eldest who was my mother,  Elna, and then Clare Jean.  In this picture Donald have two of their grandchildren between them.  They are both children of Clare Jean.  The taller girl is Ruth Ann ("Cookie") and the little girl is Patty.  

I think this picture was probably made in the 1950's.

Devil's Den outing 1927

Around 1927 or so, Donald and Ruth Ricketts took their girls on a vacation.

They went to a park in Arkansas called "Devil's

Den."  With them were a large group of friends, also Donald's brother Sam and his wife Ruby, and their two girls, Ona Mae and Marian.

In the photo of the large group, my mother Anna Louise is seated in the far left corner of the picture.



In the second picture at left, where Anna Louise is in the center, the couple on the left is Sam and Ruby Ricketts, and the couple seated on the rock are Ruth and Donald Ricketts.





Seated on the rock below are some friends and cousins.  On the far right is Anna Louise, in front of her is her sister Elna.

Among the bathing beauties in the picture below, Anna Louise is second from left.

My grandparents Ruth and Donald Ricketts

My grandmother Ruth fell in love with Donald Ricketts, a shy but steady country boy.  He never supported her in the manner she was accustomed, but she stuck with him through thick and thin.

They married in 1913 at the first Presbyterian Church in Clarksville.  That church building is still standing, and the largest stained glass window is from the Barry family.  On their wedding day it began to rain, so Ruth threw a sheet over her head and dress, and walked across the street to the church.

My grandfather William Donald Ricketts

My grandmother Ruth Barthel Barry

             

the three Ricketts brothers

Donald and Ruth during courtship

Ruth and Donald on the left

Donald sweeps the sidewalk in front of the Barry home

the wedding invitation

Wedding Gifts on wedding day