Dorothy Idalynn (Grimmett) Clement (1927 - 2015)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

Dorothy Idalynn Grimmett was born on January 27, 1927 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the second child born to Ova Jethro Grimmett by his fourth wife, Dorothy Susan Cornell. Ova Jethro had two sons by two of his earlier marriages. 11 years after Dorothy's birth she had another brother, Charles Robert making her the only daughter. Her family usually lived outside of Little Rock in the small community of Ferndale^[1]. Ova Jethro would move his family into the city when his wife became pregnant to ensure she would have quick access to a doctor if something went wrong. When Dorothy was born her parents asked her older brother, William Ova Grimmett what he wanted to name his little sister. She was to be named Dorothy after her mother and William chose the name Idalynn, after the daughter of their neighbor, who 3 year old William had a crush on at the time.

Ova Jethro Grimmett worked three jobs during the Great Depression. He ran a farm in Ferndale, drove an electric street car in Little Rock, and owned a grocery store in Ferndale. Dorothy and her brothers William and Charles grew up working on their father's farm and in the family grocery store.

Dorothy's parents expected excellent academics from their children. Her older brother William graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. While still in high school, Dorothy played basketball on the girl's team, even helping win a championship, despite being only 5'1". She passed her basketball trophy to her granddaughter, Sadie Whanger when Sadie started playing basketball. Dorothy also acted in her senior play of Wizard of Oz as Dorothy.

Dorothy graduated as salutatorian from Joe T. Robinson High School on May 29th, 1944. She had hoped to go on to college and join WWII as a nurse, however her father forbid her. His belief that women should not attend college later influenced Dorothy's conviction to send her own two daughters to college.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XMGC-47L : accessed 28 January 2015), Dorothy Grimmett in household of Ova J Grimmett, Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0030, sheet 2A, family 29, line 30, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 91; FHL microfilm 2,339,826.

• "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KQ2Q-2QC : accessed 28 January 2015), Dorthy Grimmie in household of Obei Grimmie, Owen Township, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60-121A, sheet 3A, family 49, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 170.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #22626456

DNA Sources

• Parental relationship is confirmed by a 3586.5 cM match between Susan (Clement) Whanger GEDmatch A120645 and her mother Dorothy (Grimmett) Clement GEDmatch T491279.

• Parental relationship is confirmed by a 3586.9 cM match between Beth (Clement) Daniel GEDmatch M808741 and her mother Dorothy (Grimmett) Clement GEDmatch T491279.

• Parental relationship is confirmed by a 1796.7 cM match between Dorothy (Grimmett) Clement GEDmatch T491279 and her nephew Chris Grimmett GEDmatch T933761.