Marshall and Bryan County, OK - LoRene Madison Taliaferro Reirdon (1908-2000) http://files.usgwarchives.net/ok/marshall/biography/r6350001.txt http://files.usgwarchives.net/ok/bryan/bios/r6350001.txt --------------------------------- Copyright © 2000 by Ella Brown ellabbrown@email.msn.com This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. --------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: ------------------------------------------------------------------ LoRene Madison Taliaferro Reirdon (1908-2000) Our mother LoRene Madison Taliaferro Reirdon was born August 23, 1908 in Madill, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Dorsey Buckner Taliaferro and Byrd Whiting Taliaferro.Her birthplace was in the family home on West Tishomingo Street across the street east of the W.N. Taliaferro home. Her maternal grandparents were George Dugan Fredrick Whiting and Mollie Fitzgerald Whiting and her paternal grandparents were Col. Thomas Dorsey Taliaferro and Eliza Lewis Madison Taliaferro. Her brother Beauford Norborne was born at the D. B. Taliaferro ranch home, Jan. 19,1900 and her older brother George Whiting was born March 25, 1903, on West Lillie Blvd. in Madill. Her younger sister Mary Byrd was born Nov. 17, 1916, in Bonham, Texas, where their maternal aunt and uncle, Dr. and Mrs. H.A. McDaniel, lived. She was lovingly referred as The Little Lady of the White House. I am sure that was a result of having two older brothers and just moving into a large White House. She spent many hours playing with her cousins who lived just across the street. She attended Madill Schools until the 5th grade when her family moved to Sherman, Texas in 1919. Her parents were vitally interested in education and took advantage of the educational opportunities, which Sherman offered. Her brothers both graduated from Austin College and returned to Madill, Oklahoma about 1923. Their home on South Crockett was very close to Washington elementary school and Sherman High School. She would tell of walking to school, riding the inurbane and the styles of the day. She was one of the first girls to have her hair “ bobbed” in the 20’s and told of going with a friend’s family to New York and entering a “Speak Easy” during her college days. LoRene enrolled in the fifth grade, Washington elementary school, and was graduated from Sherman High School in 1926. She studied music at Kidd Key College and Conservatory in Sherman. She was very active during her high school years playing basketball and tennis and swimming Instructor at Y.M.C.A. (girl’s classes). She was society editor of Hi Talk, Sherman H.S. Newspaper and the first woman business manager of the Athenian, High School annual. She was voted the most Popular Girl of her Sophomore Class, and was a cheerleader. She was class historian for her sophomore class and voted most polite girl her senior year. Her freshman year in college she attended Randolph Macon in Lynchburg, Virginia. Before her father’s death in 1927 and her mothers years of extended illness she enrolled in Austin College and later attended S.M.U. in Dallas, where she was graduated at mid-term 1930. Her younger sister Mary Byrd enrolled in Washington Elementary school, and attended there until she moved to Bonham in 1927. After her father’s death she made her home with her maternal Aunt and her husband Dr. H.A. McDaniel. She lived there until 1932. Their mother’s illness required much care and her home became a room at the hospital where Byrd’s brother-in-law was a Doctor. Her condition lasted for seven years and her younger daughter was cared for in their home in Bonham. Their mother Byrd Whiting Taliaferro died August 10, 1935. Their home on Crockett was closed up for several years and eventually sold before their mother’s death. LoRene returned to Bonham after her college graduation and lived with her sister at their aunts’ house in Bonham where she was employed as a substitute teacher for 1931-32. She and Mary Byrd also attended camp in the summers in Branson, Missouri where LoRene worked as an instructor of Softball, Archery, Tennis, Volley Ball and taught French. In 1932 she was employed as a teacher of English and Music for the elementary age at Will Rogers elementary School in Madill, Oklahoma. She and Mary Byrd lived in an apartment within the home of their brother B.N. Taliaferro and his family. She was a teacher there from 1932-1935 when she married our father Jack Joseph Reirdon. Mary Byrd graduated from Madill High School in 1933 and attended her freshman year Southeastern State College. She then moved to Oklahoma City and lived with LoRene and Jack while she attended Oklahoma University 1934-35 before returning to Durant where she married Allen Webb French of Durant, May 29, 1936. LoRene Taliaferro and Jack Reirdon were married March 22, 1935 and a New World began! The lives of Jack and LoRene Reirdon are included in the biography of the Jack Reirdon Family. Submitted by Ella Byrd Reirdon Brown