Earl Thornton GRAY Rolland Earl GRAY Cyril Calbert FOUTS Victor TOMER Lewis W NEWSON Anton Joseph RESCH Mini tree diagram
Gwendolyn Iola HIBBS

Gwendolyn Iola HIBBS10,1,11,7,9,2,3,12,11,4,5,6,11,7,13,14,15,7,7

14th Jan 19011,2,3,4,5,6,7,7 - 13th Dec 19735,6

Life History

14th Jan 1901

Born in Walla Walla County, Washington.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7

between 1917 and 1920

Residence1: In 1918 Earl Gray reports he is married; his wife is likely Gwendolyn Hibbs, who is his wife in 1920 and later. in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.8,1,9

13th Jan 1917

Married Earl Thornton GRAY in Vancouver, Clarke, Washington.3,7,7

1920

Resident 1920 Portland City Directory, Earl's Occupation Musician in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.9

28th Jul 1920

Birth of son Rolland Earl GRAY in Seattle, King, Washington.3,16,17,5

1922

Residence2: City Directory in Seattle, King, Washington.10

1924

Residence3: Resdience reported as Portland when she married Cyril Fouts in Seattle, Washington in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.11

before Mar 1924

Divorced from Earl Thornton GRAY in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.11

4th Dec 1924

Married Cyril Calbert FOUTS in Vancouver, Clark, Washington.11

between 1929 and 1930

Residence4: 1930 census and City Directory, Gwyn is married to Victor Tomer, living in Seattle, where he is a Real Estate salesman; they married there in 1929. in Seattle, King, Washington.3,11

14th Jul 1929

Married Victor TOMER in Kitsap County, Washington.3,11

before Jul 1929

Divorced from Cyril Calbert FOUTS in Washington.3,11

19th Oct 1935

Married Lewis W NEWSON in King County, Washington.11

1940

Residence5: Living in the Convent of the Sisters of the Good Shephered, as a Ward of the convent, which includes an industrial school. Listed under Gray, rather than her last married name of Tomer in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.4

8th Feb 1960

Death of Cyril Calbert FOUTS in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.19

9th Feb 1971

Death of Earl Thornton GRAY in Del Mar, San Diego, California.5,18

13th Dec 1973

Died in Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington.5,6

after 13th Dec 1973

Buried in Cowlitz View Memorial Gardens, Kelso, Cowlitz County, Washington.6

Other facts

 

Married Anton Joseph RESCH

Notes

  • Washington, Births, 1883-1935
    [Gwedolyn] Hibbs
    Birth 14 Jan 1901 Walla Walla County
    Father's Name Harry Hibbs

    In his 1917 WWI draft registration Earl Thornton Gray reported that he was married, but did not report any children.  Marriage records report that he married Gwendolyn in 1917.

    Washington, Marriage Records, 1854-2013
    Earl Thornton Gray
    Age 21, Birth Date abt 1896
    Gwendolyn Iola Hibbs, Age 17
    Application 13 Jan 1917 Clarke County, Washington
    Marriage Affidavit #9689

    In his WWI draft registration, Earl reported he was married but did not give the name of his wife.  And by then they were living in Portland, Oregon.

    U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
    Earl Thornton Gray
    Residence 895 1/2 Belmont, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
    Birth 3 Nov 1896 Oregon [1942 report of birth year as 1895 fits better with reported census ages]
    Occupation Musician, employed by Oregon Hotel, Portland
    Married
    Medium Height and Build, Blue Eyes, Light Hair
    Registered 5 June 1917 Portland, Oregon

    The 1920 census reports Gwendolyn and Earl Gray in the household of one Arthur Hawson in Portland.  With them is Gwen's mother and sister, as well as Earl's brother.

    1920 Federal Census, Multnomah County, Oregon, 15 January, Portland, District 35, Page 11A, 390 1/2 Jefferson St, Hse #97, Fam #331
    Hawson, Arthur C Head Rents M W 67 Married Immigrated 1870 Alien England England England Mill Railroad Clerk
    Hawson, Mary I Wife F W 59 Married  OR VA OH Dressmaker
    Berner, George Lodger M W 20 Single CO Germany Germany ShipYard Laborer
    - Fam #332 -
    Gray, Earl T Head Rents M W 24 Married  OR PA OR Orchestra Musician
    Gray, Gwendolyn Wife F W 19 Married  Washington Kansas Missouri
    Hibbs, Gertrude Mother-in-Law F W 39 Divorced Missouri Iowa Indiana
    Hibbs, Anna Sister-in-Law F W 17 Single Washington Kansas Missouri
    - page 11B -
    Gray, Wesley M Brother M W 22 Married [but no wife reported] OR PA OR Auto Mechanic

    The 1920 and 1922 City Directories report Earl as a musician married to Gwendolyn I Gray.  in 1920 they are reported in Portland and in 1922 they are in Seattle, Washington,  In both he is working as a musician.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1920, p 583
    Gray Earl T (Gwendolyn I) musician h 690 E Alder

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1922, p 693
    Gray Earl T (Gwendolyn I) musician h 921 av W

    A son named Rolland Earl was born in 1920, according to his Social Security records.  But that record also reports his mother as Dorothy Souders.  Dorothy was Earl's second wfe, and they did not marry until 1924.  Maybe Rolland was born out of wedlock while Earl was still married to Gwen?  I note that when he and Gwen divorced some time after the 1922 city directory, Earl married Dorothy.  Gray descendant and researcher Cynthia Boeing reports Rolland as the son of Gwen.

    They were divorced some time before 17 Mar 1924, when he married Dorothy Souders.  In December 1924, Gwendolyn married Cyril C Fouts.

    Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004
    Gwendolyn I Gray of Multonomah Co OR
    Spouse Cyril C Fouts of Multonomah Co OR
    Marriage 4 Dec 1924 Vancouver, Clark County
    Witnesses Mrs Elvina F Skaggs and Mrs Gertrude Hibbs (mother of  the bride)
    Ceremony performed by Elder A D Skaggs

    In 1926, Earl married Barbara Boswell in Kitsap County, Washington.

    In the 1930 census for Seattle, a record appears to be for this Gwendoline, with her son Edwin Gray.

    1930 Federal Census, King County, Washington, 18 April, Seattle, District 11-212, page 21A, 8421 10th Ave SW, Hse #288, Fam #296
    Tomer, Victor Head Owns Has Radio M W 35 Married at age 20 Italy Italy Italy Immigrated 1912 Real Estate Salesman [b abt 1910]
    Tomer, Gwendoline Wife F W 29 Married at age 16 England England England Immigrated 1910 [b abt 1901]
    Gray, Edwin  Son M W 9 Single Oregon Hawaii England [b abt 1921]

    There seems little doubt that this Gwendoline is Gwendolyn Hibbs, former wife of Earl T Gray.  The name of the child here would seem to confirm that.  But the birth place of parents is new.  Edwin's father, who is always reported as born in Portland, Oregon, is here reported born in the Hawaiian Islands.

    Gwendoline is reported born in England, as well as both her parents, whereas in the 1920 census her birthplace was reported as Washington, with her parents born in Kansas and Missouri.  If this is not the same Gwen and the son of Earl Gray, however, this still seems a very big coincidence.  And her son Edwin is reported as opnly 9 years old, while Edwin Gray's boirth date on his memorial in Find a grave is 7 August 1917.

    A further consideration, is Gwendoline's year of immigration into the US is here reported as 1910, when she was about 9 years old.  It may be the 1920 census which is wrong on the birth places of her and her parents.  Gwendoline's husband is reported as immigrating in 1912 from Italy.  The age at first marriage matches other information on the date of Gwendolyn Hibbs' marriage to Earl T Gray, about 1917.  In his 1917 draft registration (see above), Earl did report he was married.

    Gwendolyn "Gwyn" and Victor were reported that year in the Seattle City Directory.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1930, p 1699
    Tomer Realty Co (Victor Tomer) 2415 W Spokane
    Tomer Victor (Gwyn) (Tomer Realty Co) h 8421 16th av SW

    Their marriage record was found later, and seems to confirm definitely the identity of this Gwyn and Edwin Gray.  Gwyn Gray and Victor Tomer were married in the same county where she married Earl T Gray.

    Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004
    Victor Tomer
    Spouse Gwyn Gray
    Marriage 14 Jul 1929 Kitsap County [same county where Gwendiolyn married Earl T Gray]
    Date Recorded 13 Aug 1929 [probably meant the date the license was issued; the 13th is the day before the marriage date!]

    Gwen married again in 1935

    Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004
    Gwendolyn Gray
    Marriage to Lewis W Newson
    19 Oct 1935 King County, Washington

    But Gwen and Lewis were divorced before the 1940 census.

    There is a 1940 census record that matches Gwendolyn, in a convent.  She is reported as 40 years old, born in Washington.  She is reported, like everybody on the 4-page list, as Divorced and is a "ward" of the convent, also called St Rose's Industrial School.  No further details are provided, and I have found no background on the convent and school.  I found it interesting that the name under which she is listed is her former married name of Gray, not her most recent married name of Tomer.

    1940 Federal Census, Multnomah County, Oregon, 5 April, Portland, District 37-461, page 1B, Convent of the Good Shepherd (St Paul Industrial School), 597 North Dekum St
    Gray, Gwendolyn Ward F W 40 Divorced Grade H3 b Washington Same place in 1935

    Researcher Cynthia Boeing discovered some more information about the convent.

    "The convent where Gwendolyn Hibbs lived in 1940 was run by a group of nuns who also ran a school for wayward girls; they had to be sent there by a court or judge.  When Earl Gray divorced her he alleged that she had been sent there before, he claimed she was running up debt in others' names."
    --  Cynthia Boeing, email on Geneanet messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 27 January 2015

    Not too long afterwards, she was marreid again, and was reported as the wife of Tony Resch in the 1946 Kelso, Washington, City Directory.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989
    Kelso, Washington, City Directory, 1946, p 334
    Resch Tony (Gwendolyn) 721 Grade

    They did not stay together many years, and we find Gwen reported on her own in the 1953 and 1960 editions of the Keslo City Directory.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989
    Kelso, Washington, City Directory, 1953, p 461
    Resch Gwendolyn Mrs clk Ideal Gro r 721 Grade

    In 1960 no occupation is reported for Gwen.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989
    Kelso, Washington, City Directory, 1960, p 335
    Resch Gwendolyn Mrs r 905 Vine

    U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
    Gwendolyn Resch
    Born 14 Jan 1901
    Died Dec 1973
    Last Residence Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington 98626
    SSN 542-28-3395 issued Oregon (Before 1951)

    Gwendolyn M Resch
    Birth Jan. 14, 1901
    Death Dec. 13, 1973
    Burial Cowlitz View Memorial Gardens, Kelso, Cowlitz County, Washington, USA
    Created by Cheryl Ayres Jan 10, 2013
    --  Find A Grave Memorial #103395175, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103395175&ref=acom

Sources

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