Toby May McDowell Rives Harty.        September 3, 1928 - July 10, 2023

Toby McDowell Harty peacefully exited this life on Monday, July 10, 2023. She was born on September 3, 1928 to Ora May Bowie McDowell and Samuel Matthew McDowell. She lived life to the fullest, and did her best to make the most of the dash.

Toby grew up in Yantis TX, a rural community in East Texas, and it was always Home to her. By all accounts, she had an idyllic childhood. She swore she could fly when she was a child, and we heard it often (and vehemently!) enough that we believed her!

Toby graduated from Longview High School in 1945, and soon joined her mother as a student at East Texas Teachers College (now Texas A&M University - Commerce.) There she met Sam Rives, also a student at ET, and they were married in June 1947. Toby took a sabbatical from higher education while she raised her 4 children - Kaye, John, Sam and Missy. In 1967, Toby returned to East Texas State University to finish her college education, graduating in 1968 with her B.S, and her M. Ed. in 1969.

She was hired by (the then) Southwest Missouri State University as their Dean of Women. While she thoroughly enjoyed her time in Springfield, she couldn't resist the opportunity when Texas A&M University offered her the position as the FIRST Dean of Women in 1971. Title IX eliminated the position of Dean of Women, and so she took on the new role of Associate Director of Student Affairs. While at A&M, Toby married Bob Place. His position with Moore Business Forms meant a move to Denton for them, and thus a new chapter.

In 1993, Toby moved back Home to "dig in the dirt," her favorite past time. Two years later, she met Jim Harty. They married soon after, and spent several years traveling over much of the United States and Canada in their motorhome, seeing the most beautiful scenery, and meeting some wonderful people.

Mom thoroughly invested herself in the dirt, becoming a certified Texas Master Gardener in 2001. Nothing made her happier than pulling weeds. If something was weighing on her, you could always find her digging in the yard with a mountain of weeds close beside her. Her yard

was her haven, and it was a masterpiece with flowers, trees, and rocks, from all over North America.

Toby was honored to have received many awards and honors throughout her career, but the greatest honor of all was to have been named a Distinguished Alumni at Texas A&M - Commerce in 2013.

Toby is predeceased by her mother and father; Brothers: Taylor, Elwin, Sam, Bill, and Jack; Infant younger sister, Frankie Louise; Husband, Jim Harty; Grandson, Corey Rives; several aunts and uncles; and by the father of her children, Sam Rives. She was the last of her generation.

Surviving Toby are: her daughter, Kaye (Jan) of Denton; sons, John (Lawren) of Dallas, and Sam Jr (Meshelle) of Elmendorf TX; and daughter, Missy (Ed) of College Station. Grandchildren: Jay (Helen) Jacoby, Micki (Shawn) Kelly, Leah Rives, Lisbeth (Hollis) Bankston, Sam (Sharon) Rives, Cecil Rives, and Maddie Ferguson. Great Grandchildren: Jackson & Fin Jacoby; Sophie, Hunter and Hayes Howe; Tori Kelly; and, Lars Bankston.

There are so many friends and caregivers to thank for helping Mom in her later years – her family is so grateful for your love of our mother. Special thanks to Fairhaven Denton, Pam & Staff at Skyway Senior Living and Three Oaks Hospice - you were so loving and caring to our mother.

If you are so inclined, the following organizations were near and dear to Mom's heart, and we know she would love your kindness to them:

St Philip Episcopal Church

PO Box 636

Sulphur Springs TX 75483

Northeast Texas Food Bank

217 Linda Dr

Sulphur Springs TX 75482.

Pls notate "In Memoriam - Toby Harty" in the memo line.