Phyllis Lee Crandell Florence began life as Phyllis Stephenson on February 4, 1927. She was born the seventh living child of Mary Elizabeth (Hardesty) and Charles Sylvester "Ves" Stephenson, in Anthony, Kansas, down near the Oklahoma border. Phyllis' mother was 40 years old when she was born and her older sister, Ruth Leo, didn't even know that "Lizzie" was pregnant.
It was still "the roaring Twenties" in the cities but in rural Kansas, hardships came earlier. Artificial incentives to farmer and ranchers during World War I had expired. Those who had borrowed money to buy more land and livestock could not pay back their loans. The Stephenson family had been happy growing up on the farm, when times were good. For 20 years, Ves farmed his father's land in the summer near Hazelton, Kansas, and worked for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in the winter. In 1926, he went in with a friend and bought a combination pool hall and barber shop in Anthony. They bought a car (which was later stolen). Sister Ruth played piano at the movie house, Ves called squares in the monthly dances while Lizzie played piano.
But in 1930, the family moved to Wichita where Ves worked at the meat packing plant and as a policeman. Lizzie was a seamstress at Grayson's Dress Shop. Much of the childraising of Phyllis was accomplished by her older sisters. It was the Great Depression and the start of droughts in the area that would lead to the Dust Bowl. However, the Stephenson girls remember a happy upbringing, with lots of piano music, card playing and cameraderie.
When Phyllis was old enough to attend high school, she moved to Jackson, Mississippi, to live with her sister Ruth and Ruth's husband. After graduation, Phyllis moved back to Wichita. Here is her high school graduation photo.
Stay tuned for more about the life of Phyllis Stephenson and the Stephenson family going back all the way to the 1600s in Scotland! Your comments and questions are welcome.
It was still "the roaring Twenties" in the cities but in rural Kansas, hardships came earlier. Artificial incentives to farmer and ranchers during World War I had expired. Those who had borrowed money to buy more land and livestock could not pay back their loans. The Stephenson family had been happy growing up on the farm, when times were good. For 20 years, Ves farmed his father's land in the summer near Hazelton, Kansas, and worked for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in the winter. In 1926, he went in with a friend and bought a combination pool hall and barber shop in Anthony. They bought a car (which was later stolen). Sister Ruth played piano at the movie house, Ves called squares in the monthly dances while Lizzie played piano.
But in 1930, the family moved to Wichita where Ves worked at the meat packing plant and as a policeman. Lizzie was a seamstress at Grayson's Dress Shop. Much of the childraising of Phyllis was accomplished by her older sisters. It was the Great Depression and the start of droughts in the area that would lead to the Dust Bowl. However, the Stephenson girls remember a happy upbringing, with lots of piano music, card playing and cameraderie.
When Phyllis was old enough to attend high school, she moved to Jackson, Mississippi, to live with her sister Ruth and Ruth's husband. After graduation, Phyllis moved back to Wichita. Here is her high school graduation photo.
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