Imanita Parrish Shelley

Who was Mrs Imanita Parrish Shelley?

Mrs Imanita Parrish Shelley was a 24-year-old American woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born on July 2, 1887, she was a second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated ship, traveling with her mother Lutie Davis Parrish. Imanita’s survival story and subsequent life journey make her a fascinating figure in Titanic history.

Early Life and Family

Imanita Parrish was born in Lexington, Kentucky, to Samuel Edward Parrish, a farmer, and Lutie Davis Temple. However, there is some uncertainty about her parentage, with speculation that she may have been adopted. Her early years were spent in Kentucky before the family moved westward.

Marriage and Relocation

In 1909, at the age of 22, Imanita married William H. Shelley in Salt Lake City, Utah. The couple’s early married life was marked by frequent moves:

Initially settled in Salt Lake City
Moved to Butte, Montana in late 1911
Relocated to Deer Lodge, Montana in early 1912

These relocations suggest a restless spirit or perhaps a search for better opportunities in the burgeoning western states.

The Titanic Journey

Departure and Accommodations

In February 1912, Imanita and her mother embarked on a trip to England. For their return journey, they boarded the Titanic at Southampton as second-class passengers. Their ticket (number 230433) cost £26, a considerable sum at the time.

Upon boarding, the Shelleys faced an unexpected challenge:

They had purchased “the best second-class accommodation”
Initially assigned to a small cabin deep in the ship
Imanita, feeling ill, wrote to the purser requesting better accommodations
After leaving Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, they were moved to a better cabin

The Fateful Night

On the evening of April 14, 1912, Imanita and her mother experienced the following:

Awakened by the collision with the iceberg
Initially reassured by a steward that all was well
Later instructed to don lifebelts and proceed to the boat deck
Assisted by Mr. Isidor and Mrs. Ida Straus to the upper deck
Boarded Lifeboat 12, with Imanita jumping in after her mother was roughly tossed aboard
Witnessed the Titanic’s final moments from about 100 yards away

Survival and Aftermath

Lifeboat 12 was one of the last to be picked up by the RMS Carpathia, sometime after 8 am on April 15. Once aboard the rescue ship, Imanita attempted to send a telegram to her husband in Deer Lodge, Montana, which unfortunately was never transmitted due to the backlog of messages.

Post-Titanic Life

Despite the traumatic experience, Imanita and her mother remained avid travelers:

Frequently sailed between California and Honolulu, Hawaii
Settled in Hawaii sometime before 1920
By 1919, their residence was listed as Cheyenne, Wyoming

Second Marriage and Further Travels

Imanita’s marriage to William Shelley ended sometime after the Titanic disaster. In 1923, she married Jack Huntington Hall in Manila, Philippines. This new chapter in her life brought more adventures:

Returned to Honolulu in 1924
Traveled to Australia, returning via Seattle in 1927
Settled in Ewa, Hawaii, where Jack worked as an electrician in a sugar mill

Final Years

Following her mother’s death in 1930, Imanita and Jack moved back to mainland USA:

Settled in Sonora, Tuolumne County, California around 1942
Imanita passed away on May 24, 1954, in Los Altos, California, at the age of 66
She was cremated at Chapel of Chimes, Oakland

Legacy

Imanita Parrish Shelley’s life exemplifies the resilience of Titanic survivors. From her harrowing experience aboard the doomed liner to her globe-trotting adventures in later life, she embodied the spirit of early 20th-century American mobility and adaptability. Her story, while not as widely known as some other Titanic passengers, offers a unique perspective on the disaster’s long-term impact on survivors and their subsequent life choices.