Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Byrl Veda Page (later Byrl Veda Page Rather) |
| Birth | October 2, 1909 |
| Birthplace | North Salem (often cited as Danville), Hendricks County, Indiana |
| Death | September 1, 1968 (age 58) |
| Place of Death | Houston, Harris County, Texas |
| Cause of Death | Cancer |
| Burial | Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, Houston |
| Parents | Father: Peter Mark Page (1872–1943); Mother: Effie May Hunt Page (1880–1956) |
| Siblings | At least five, including Lola Deny Maroney (née Page) and David Andrew Page |
| Spouse | Daniel Irvin Rather Sr. (1909–1962); married January 17, 1931, in Victoria, Texas |
| Residence | Houston, Texas (mid-1930s through 1968) |
| Education | Limited formal schooling; avid reader |
| Occupation | Homemaker; occasional odd jobs |
| Children | Dan Irvin Rather Jr. (b. October 31, 1931), plus a younger son and daughter |
| Notable Family | Grandchildren include Robin Rather, Danjack Rather, and Patricia Rather |
Early Life and Roots
Born in Hendricks County, Indiana, on October 2, 1909, Byrl Veda Page joined a world of hard work and close family. Her birthplace is North Salem or adjacent Danville, little specks on the map framed by rural fields and town squares. Peter Mark Page and Effie May Hunt Page supported their large family through the era’s ups and downs. With at least five siblings, including Lola Deny and David Andrew, Byrl learnt country life and self-reliance. Despite her minimal schooling, she loved reading, which would eventually drive her home influence.
Marriage, Work, and Houston Years
In her early 20s, Byrl made her way to Texas from the Midwest. On January 17, 1931, she married Daniel Irvin Rather Sr. in Victoria, Texas, amid the Great Depression. Following their move to Houston, Daniel worked as a ditch digger and pipe layer, paying the expenses and establishing the family’s routine. Byrl led the home with pragmatic insight, understanding scarcity and possibility. She worked odd jobs as needed, but her main job was cooking, fixing, and being a sanctuary.
They lived in Houston for over 30 years. Oil, shipping, and construction boom and bust in the city in the 1940 census. In Byrl’s working-class society, weather, contracts, and luck determined pay cheques, but there remained hope. Books and newspapers on the kitchen table opened new worlds.
Motherhood and Influence
Byrl became influential after their first child, Dan Irvin Rather Jr., was born on October 31, 1931. She promoted education, curiosity, and daily news readership, which guided her. Their oldest child would graduate from college and become a journalist and national celebrity despite neither parent graduating from high school. Behind that approach was Byrl’s example: continuous reading, acute listening, and believing ideas matter even when money is tight.
Dan’s younger siblings—a brother and a sister—completed the family. Public documents conceal their names, but Byrl built a cohesive, practical, and aspiring family. She made learning a calling in a home with shifts and school bells.
Family Web and Descendants
Through her siblings, Byrl was connected to Indiana, while her Texas family was her life. Her marriage to Daniel Sr. (1909-1962) ended on June 18, 1962, leading to her years as a widow. Dan Rather Jr., a working-class journalist, popularised her legacy. Grandchildren Robin Rather, an Austin environmentalist; Danjack Rather, a Manhattan assistant district attorney; and Patricia Rather, mentioned in family allusions, follow. Civic participation, professional purpose, and a focus on the world beyond the front door are hallmarks across generations.
Family Snapshot
| Relation | Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father | Peter Mark Page | 1872–1943 | Indiana roots; likely farmer or laborer |
| Mother | Effie May Hunt Page | 1880–1956 | Homemaker; matriarch in Indiana |
| Sibling | Lola Deny Maroney (née Page) | — | Indiana upbringing |
| Sibling | David Andrew Page | — | Indiana upbringing |
| Husband | Daniel Irvin Rather Sr. | 1909–1962 | Ditch digger and pipe layer; married 1931 |
| Son | Dan Irvin Rather Jr. | b. 1931 | Journalist; born in Wharton County, Texas |
| Younger Son | Name private | — | Houston-raised |
| Daughter | Name private | — | Houston-raised |
| Granddaughter | Robin Rather | — | Environmentalist |
| Grandson | Danjack Rather | — | Assistant DA |
| Grandchild | Patricia Rather | — | Family reference |
Later Years and Passing
Byrl spent most of her adult life in Houston, where familiar streets and industries surrounded family milestones. She was a constant at home when Daniel Sr. died in 1962. Byrl, 58, died of cancer on September 1, 1968. Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery commemorates her life of feeling rather than fame. Her legacy is an imprint—like handwriting in a well-used cookbook—on her children and loved ones.
The Household as a Launchpad
According to Byrl, a typical home can be a launchpad. News was digested and futures imagined at the kitchen table. She combined resilience and thrift to fit curiosity into a chore routine. Newspapers, radio, and discussion connected her tiny dwelling to the world outside. That combination helped a journalist find his voice and a family see clearly.
Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1909 | Born October 2 in Hendricks County, Indiana |
| Early 1930s | Relocates to Texas |
| 1931 | Marries Daniel Irvin Rather Sr. on January 17 in Victoria, Texas |
| 1931 | Son Dan Irvin Rather Jr. born October 31 |
| 1940 | Family appears in Houston census |
| 1962 | Husband Daniel Sr. dies on June 18 |
| 1968 | Byrl dies on September 1 in Houston; buried at Forest Park Lawndale |
Measures of a Life
Some lives are measured in titles, some in quiet days well spent. Byrl’s record favours the latter: decades in Houston, three children, years of homemaking, and a mother who regularised reading. Numbers provide structure—1909, 1931, 1968—but the tale is how a working-class household fostered intellect.
FAQ
Who was Byrl Veda Page?
She was a Midwestern-born homemaker who raised her family in Houston and is best known as the mother of journalist Dan Rather.
When and where was she born?
She was born on October 2, 1909, in Hendricks County, Indiana.
Whom did she marry and when?
She married Daniel Irvin Rather Sr. on January 17, 1931, in Victoria, Texas.
How did she influence Dan Rather?
She fostered a love of reading, curiosity, and attention to the news, shaping his path toward journalism.
How many children did she have?
She had three children: Dan Irvin Rather Jr., plus a younger son and a daughter.
What was her husband’s occupation?
He worked as a ditch digger and pipe layer, embodying the blue-collar backbone of the era.
When did she pass away and what was the cause?
She died on September 1, 1968, in Houston at age 58 from cancer.
Where is she buried?
Her resting place is Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.
