Complex sentence: In 1968, Drayton Hastie sold house to the the New York financier and preservationist, Richard Jenrette but reserved a life tenancy on the main floor for his mother, who continued to live at Roper House until her death in 1981.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1968, Drayton Hastie sold house the to the the New York financier and preservationist, Richard Jenrette but reserved a life tenancy on the main floor for his mother. Mrs. Hastie continued to live at Roper House until her death in 1981.