  Mamie Leonard & Ethel Davidson LOIS ANN's CORNER
COOKS BRIGHTENED TIOGA SCHOOL By Lois Ann Osburn During my school days at Tioga, 2 ladies could always be found in our lunchroom. Regardless of the weather, Mamie Leonard and Ethel Davidson would be hard at work, preparing the noon meal or cleaning up the kitchen. Mrs. Leonard has called Tioga home since 1919. She was born in Fannin County and married in 1917. She has 2 children, Bo Truett and Olene Little. She has 4 grandchildren, 3 of whom she reared and saw graduate from high school. They are all married now and she has 6 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Leonard spent a good deal of her life taking care of others. Her mother lived with her until her death in 1930. In earlier years, they did washing and ironing for the public to pay for their home. Also living with Mrs. Leonard was her bachelor brother, "Uncle Johnny", as he was known to everyone in town. He lived with her until he went to live at Sundial Nursing Home 8 months before his death. Ethel Davidson was born in Whitewright and moved to Tioga...who died in 1984. She has 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 1959. Mrs. Leonard started her career as a cook at Tioga School in 1940. She vividly remembers that the school had its own garden back then. There were 3 men in charge of the care, planting and harvesting of the vegetables. These men were Clyde Willen, Lee Laird and Ethel's husband, Hub Davidson. Mrs. Davidson started her career as a cook in the same school in 1945. She remembers cooking in the basement of the school. Both Mrs. Davidson and Mrs. Leonard remember canning in the science room. They worked in the W.P.A. program. Later they moved into the new cafeteria. These two ladies, known as "The Goldust Twins" to each other, and a homemaking teacher once attended classes at T.W.U. After a week, they all received their diplomas in cooking. ...work at the school until 1965. Since then, she has worked as a cook for the Nichols home, Sundial, Janies Little World and the outreach program. For the past 5 years she has served as cook for the Tioga Snap Center. Both women attend First Baptist Church in Tioga. Mrs. Leonard is secretary, and Mrs. Davidson is assistant teacher of their Sunday School class. Mrs. Leonard walks to the post office every day, weather permitting. She enjoys watching TV and visiting her friends. Mrs. Davidson is active in the ladies auxiliary and loves to work puzzles. She also loves visiting with her friends. After all these years, these ladies have remained good friends. And they both still know how to cook a good meal.  Tioga School History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |