The Still-Scott House

In 1925, Maudalene Milburn bought the lot from the W.J. Logans and turned around and sold it the following year to C.L. Still, who gave a Deed of Trust to W.J. Boucher to get the house built. On Nov. 5, 1928, Mr. Still died, leaving his pregnant widow, Helen Ruth Still and a minor child to pay off the lien. With the payment not being made on the debt, Boucher had the property sold at a foreclosure sale in June 1930, but in July 1930, Helen Ruth Phillips (since remarried) in her own right and as guardian of the estate of her minor children filed suit against Boucher presumably for not giving notice of the sale to Still’s Estate. In August, the suit was settled with the title vesting in Ruth and her children, who in 1936 sold the property to Wright McClatchy, who lived diagonally across the alley to the North. Also, in 1936 Frank N. Cook (1901-1985) took own

Also, in 1936 Frank N. Cook (1901-1985) took ownership along with his wife Genevieve (1910-2006), whom he married in 1932. She was the daughter of “Pop” Russell of Graham, the 24-hour person for Morrison Funeral Home. Frank’s Family came to Olney in 1910. He became the station agent for the Gulf, Texas, & Western Railroad at Jean after he graduated from Olney High School. In 1924, he began working at the post office and was made assistant postmaster in 1938 and acting postmaster on the death of D.B. Wood. Cook received the postmastership in 1954, being confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Cooks had one child, Russell, a Baylor grad.

In 1940, the Cooks built a new home at 807 W. Oak and sold the house to Ed O. Dietrich, the owner of Sunny View Grocery. Ed was the father of Louella, Leola (Boots), and Marlene.

In 1950, Louella Dietrich married Lewis Donald (Don) Terry (1920-1994), and they became the residents of the house. Don was in the oil business and a farmer. They had three daughters—Donna, Deon and Diann. Don served on the boards of OISD and Olney Savings Association.

In 1961, the Terrys sold the house to John Loy McDougal (1939-1998) and his wife Anita (Green). John was the twin brother to Charles, and they were OHS football stars. John worked in the oil patch and had a rod machine.

In 1962, Clifton and Gail (Palmer) Key married and became the owners of the house. Their three children were Rebecca, Thomas and Alice, and they all lived in this house. The Hubert Anz Family lived next door, and Mrs. Anz was an excellent baby sitter. Bob and Harriett Farmer and their two little girls lived on the other side, making it hard to visit Mrs. Anz before the other.

In 1969, the Keys sold to David (1935-2000) and Lawana (1948-1970) (Smith) Penn, who needed a one-story living space. The Penns lived in a second-floor garage house on W. Oak, and Lawana was pregnant and could not navigate the stairs. The baby to be born was Darren Penn, and his mother did not live long after his birth. In 1971, David married Carolyn (Scott) Seymour. They raised Darren and their daughter Lori.

David came to Olney from Littlefield in 1965 and took over the Olney Enterprise Newspaper, and his brother Bill came to assist. David was an O.U. grad in Journalism and became the mayor of Olney from 1982-86, a member of the Rotary Club, Olney Recreation, Olney Board of Industry & Commerce, and First Methodist Church, where he served as choir director. In 1972, David and Carolyn added on to the house to give it its present configuration.

In 1981, the Penns moved a little west on Hamilton, and Carolyn’s brother Jerry L. Scott and wife Judy (Cottle) became the owners. The Scotts’ children are Joe and Jenny. Jerry has been employed by OISD as a teacher and later as a bus driver.