Irene Howell Citty
Irene Howell Citty
Oct. 28, 1893
Sept. 4, 1984
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
1. Photograph of Irene Howell Citty
Provenance: Msg. Michael Howel
Submitted by: Geraldine McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission
2. Biographical Information
Irene Alveria Howell-Frock-Citty, the youngest child of Ferd C. Howell and Minnie J. Thomas, was born on the Laureles Ranch on October 28, 1893. She was only approaching two years old at the time of her father’s death, and at the time of her mother’s death in January of 1908 was still a minor. Her older sisters Nellie and Josephine raised her in Kansas where they resided after their mother’s death
Josephine Howell had married Herbert G. Hemme in Corpus Christi, but returned to his family’s home in Kansas after her mother died and Herbert had trouble finding sufficient work as a driller in south Texas. The sisters later returned to the Corpus Christi area after Herbert Hemme died in February of 1931 in Yates Center, Kansas.
Nellie Howell had married Charles Louis Lege and they settled in Freeport, Texas.
Meanwhile Irene had married LeRoy Frock in 1912, but this union was brief as Mr. Frock died September 23, 1916.
Irene then married James Forrest Citty. Because of her youth and financial inadequacies, Irene had given up her son for adoption. Robert LeRoy Frock was thus raised by the Hiatt family and ultimately settled in Oregon where he died in April of 1983. Meanwhile, he and Irene had re-discovered each other some years previously, and she ended her days at a nursing center near the home of her son’s family in Oregon. Her remains were returned to Corpus Christi for burial next to her father in Old Bayview Cemetery. She outlived her son by a little more than a year as she died on September 4, 1984.
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcribed by: Rosa G. Gonzales
3. Obituary
Mrs. Irene A. Citty, 90,formally of Corpus Christi, died Tuesday, September 4, 1984, in a Redmond, Oregon, nursing home. She had lived in Corpus Christi all of her life until moving to Oregon in 1981. She was a former employee of the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station and was a member of the Second Baptist church. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mary Hiatt; five grandchildren, Sue Westgate, Robert, David, Larry, and Norman Hiatt, all of Redmond, Oregon; six nieces, Mrs. Giles (Evelyn) Dodson, Mrs. W. C. Gwynn, Mrs. Kathryn Hemme, all of Corpus Christi, Mrs. Willa Mae Cole of Bay city, Mrs. Charlie Louise Griffin of Freeport, and Mrs. Ellene McCluskey of Angleton; several great-grandchildren; numerous great nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 9 a.m. Friday, September 7, 1984, at Cage-Mills Downtown Chapel with Dr. Loren White, pastor of the Second Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Old Bayview Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be Fr. Michael Howell, Tommy Howell, Phillip Howell, W. C. Gwynn, Dwight Gwynn, and Barnard Dodson. Cage-Mills Downtown Chapel
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, September 6, 1984, Section C, p. 14
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission