English v. Rainwater

1965 OK 35, 403 P.2d 449, 1965 Okla. LEXIS 288
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedFebruary 16, 1965
Docket40664
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 1965 OK 35 (English v. Rainwater) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
English v. Rainwater, 1965 OK 35, 403 P.2d 449, 1965 Okla. LEXIS 288 (Okla. 1965).

Opinion

BERRY, Justice.

This appeal is from a judgment rendered against plaintiffs in a quiet title action. The facts essential to understanding of the determinative issues are disclosed by the following summation of matters reflected by the pleadings.

On May 7, 1943, William C. English died testate seized of a farm in Lincoln County described as Lots 3 and 4, and the W/2 of the SW/4 of Sec. 25, Township 16 N., Range 6 E., containing approximately 141.91 acres. After the usual provision for discharge of debts and expenses, testator left the entire remainder of his estate to his wife, Hattie R. English under the following devise:

“ * * * to be and become hers for and during her natural life, with full power to her the said Hattie R. English, to sell, trade, traffic and dispose of any or all of the same, as freely as though she were the absolute owner thereof in fee simple absolute.”

The succeeding clause of such will then provided that upon Hattie R. English’s death all property bequeathed and devised to her “of which she is the owner” was devised and bequeathed to testator’s seven named children in equal shares. This clause also contained this provision:

“That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent or interfere in any manner with my wife Hattie R. English selling or disposing of any part of said property.”

The will was admitted to probate, and on July 20, 1943, a final decree was entered vesting title of the real estate in Hattie R. English in accordance with the will, and further decreeing that upon her death the property which she then owned should descend to testator’s children as named in the will as residuary legatees.

On February 20, 1962, this action was brought by Harry and Charlie English as remaindermen named in the will, joined by Billy D. and Robert L. English, heirs at law of Louie F. English, deceased, one of the remaindermen named in the will. Plaintiffs alleged ownership and that they were entitled to immediate possession of the property; that Hattie R. English died May 10, 1944, without lawfully having exercised her power to sell, and upon date of her death the remaindermen named in the will became owners in fee simple and entitled to possession of their respective, undivided interests. Ilda English, now Rainwater, a remainderman named in the will, and her husband, were named as principal defendants, and charged with wrongfully having kept plaintiffs out of possession of the property. Plaintiffs asked judgment against defendants for restitution of their undivided interests in the land. A second cause of action alleged that all named defendants were claiming interests or estates in the property adverse to plaintiffs and, except as to the undivided interests acquired as remaindermen, or by virtue of being heirs or assigns of deceased remaindermen, asked the court to determine all adverse claims, decree such other defendants to have *451 no interest therein, and quiet plaintiffs’ title as to their respective undivided interests. The Federal Land Bank of Wichita, Kansas, and owners of mineral leases were dismissed as defendants during trial by agreement, and need not be referred to herein.

Defendants answered by general and specific denial of plaintiffs’ claim, and further alleged that following final decree of the probate court Hattie R. English conveyed this property by warranty deed dated November 18, 1943, to Orville, Ralph and Clell English and Ilda Rainwater; thereafter Orville, Ralph and Clell English, with their wives, conveyed to defendant by warranty deed executed January 29, 1944; as part of consideration for such conveyances the defendant assumed the mortgage indebtedness to the Federal Land Bank and also that created by a mortgage under the Emergency Farm Mortgage Act, totaling $1,843.14; as additional consideration defendant left her home in Tulsa in 1943 and moved to the property involved in order to care for Hattie English, their mother, who was ill and physically unable to provide for herself; and thereafter defendant was joined by her husband who moved to the home to assist in caring for Hattie English, all of which was without remuneration and constituted additional consideration for the conveyance by the grantor. Defendant also alleged continuous, open and notorious possession of the premises from January 29, 1944, which possession and holding was sufficiently adverse to perfect title by prescription. Other allegations relative to possession, improvement and discharge of indebtedness, and the alternative plea to impress a lien upon plaintiffs’ claims, if any should be decreed, are immaterial to questions herein considered.

By their reply plaintiffs asserted the deeds in question were void, and that they were tenants in common with defendants and had no notice of defendants’ adverse claim, and likewise denied any acts by defendants sufficient to constitute ouster of plaintiffs as cotenants.

The issues made were tried to the court. Plaintiffs’ evidence established they were heirs named in the will mentioned, and they relied upon the final decree of the probate court to establish their right to distribution of the estate according to terms of the will upon the death of Hattie R. English, the life tenant.

Defendants’ evidence established that following testator’s death, Hattie English lived alone upon the property. She was in ill health, had only $11.00 per month income from old age assistance, and needed someone to live with her and care for her needs. Defendants lived in Tulsa at the time. Defendant, Ilda Rainwater, left her home and moved to the farm to care for the mother. The defendant, Louie Rainwater, remained in his employment, commuting between his job in Tulsa and his family on the farm. Ilda took care of her mother at all times until her death in May, 1944. Defendant testified their mother discussed the matter with her and her brothers prior to execution of the deed (from the mother), the agreement being that they were to care for her during her lifetime and retire the indebtedness on the farm. After the mother’s deed was recorded defendant and her brothers again discussed the matter and it was agreed the brothers would deed defendant their undivided interest in consideration of defendants’ assuming the entire care of their mother and likewise the indebtedness upon the property. Upon receipt of this latter deed defendants took full ownership of the property and thereafter lived upon the premises, maintained the mother, furnished medical care and upon her death paid the obligations incurred from her last illness.

Over the years defendants openly and continuously lived upon the premises, improved the property, paid taxes and claimed same as their homestead while paying on the mortgage indebtedness. There was evidence that the property was worth from $1800.00 to $2800.00 in 1943, while plaintiffs’ testimony fixed the value at $3500.00-$4000.00. The evidence also showed that *452 after moving onto the land defendants built onto and modernized the house by installation of electricity and running water. They also fenced the farm and built outbuildings.

The trial court took the case under advisement and thereafter entered judgment finding that Hattie R.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1965 OK 35, 403 P.2d 449, 1965 Okla. LEXIS 288, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/english-v-rainwater-okla-1965.