View Ethel's pictures and the rest of the HIGGINS FAMILY PHOTOS
Ethel STEPHEY was the daughter of David STEPHEY and Emma HIGGINS.
Ethel STEPHEY was born 21 September1896 in Fairbury, Illinois
On 23 December 1923 Ethel STEPHEY married Keith LESLIE in Brookfield, Missouri. The marriage certificate lists Keith Herbert LESLIE as being from Braymer, Caldwell County, Missouri and Ethel STEPHEY from Chillicothe, Livingston County, Missouri. The service was performed at the Metodist Church in Brookfield, Livingston County, Missouri
Ethel and Keith had one child, who is still living, and then were divorced.
Ethel was forced to raise her child as a single mother, which was very difficult thing to do in that era. The depression was also just beginning.
Fortunately Ethel was a professional woman. She was a registered nurse. She became Superintendent of a hospital in 1928, and with this responsibility she was required to reside at the hospital. Fortunately for Ethel, her young child was able to live with Ethel's brother and sister, neither of whom were married at that time. Ethel bought a car so that she could travel the 15 miles to be with her child on her days off. It was very rare in those days for women to drive. Ethel was a very independent woman. There were also times when her child could stay her at the hospital on the weekends and in the summer. When Ethel's child was 16, Ethel's sister Ferne married, and Ethel took a job as a school nurse. Ethel got an apartment, which allowed Ethel and her child to be together.
Here is a picture of Ethel Stephey with her mother Emma and her older sister Ferne (Ethel is the one in the middle).
Here is a picture of Ethel's daughter Jean with her cousin Buster (Our thanks goes to Larry Stephey for this photo)
This page was last updated on 15 May 2013
