Allie Gertrude Cox, was born Nov. 14, 1891 to Thomas Richmond and Lillie Mae (Laughlin) Cox. She was welcomed by a sister, Manie. Their mother died when Allie was just four years old. Her father married Eva Carmickle who Allie and her sister thought the world of. This step-mother would provide the girls with three half-sisters.
Allie married Thomas Summerville on December 10, 1908, when she was seventeen and Tom was twenty-two. They had eight children; Arthur, Lois, Leo & Cletho (twins), Garnet, David, Mary Alice, and Lillie Mae. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary as did five of their children.
She was a great reader and read every night using a coal oil lamp. She read mostly about history. She started genealogy research in the 1920’s and spent many hours in court houses and libraries researching.
Cooking was done on a cook stove. Breakfast always consisted of meat (ham, bacon or sausage), eggs, rolled oats and fresh biscuits. After each meal two of the children washed and dried the dishes. They took turns helping with the cooking and washing up. Same with outside chores. The boys could cook and the girls could milk.
Always busy doing something, she had a love for quilting. During her quilting years she made a quilt for each of her children (8), grandchildren (24), great grandchildren (41)and one for a great grandchild that she sent to Turkey just before she died.
Her father was staying with them when he died in 1944. Allie was just starting home from California from visiting her half sister, Ruie. She didn’t know her father died until she got home. They had the funeral at their house. Leo was in the Air Force stationed in California at that time. David was also in the service and was able to attend the funeral.
Her husband Tom died in 1964.