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From the files of Frank Clyburn Clyburn Family News Vol. 01 Thanksgiving - Christmas 1997 November 27, 1997 |
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Woodrow Clyburn recently moved back to Alaska. He went north to help his sister Joie and her children move. He first took a bus to Bellingham, Washington and then the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry to Wrangel, Alaska, where he was born. He had a brief reunion with his mother while there.
He helped his sister to move and now is in the process of looking for a employment position in Sitka. Lots of luck Woodrow!
Joie Clyburn recently moved from Wrangell, Alaska to Sitka, Alaska. I called her and she is living in a nice place about a mile out of town and within a block of the largest store in Sitka.
She has 4 children, Jasmine, Seth, Hart Lee, and Kyler. I recently talked to all of them on the phone and they seem to be well and healthy. Jasmine says she is doing well in school and enjoys it.
Joie seems to like Sitka.
Woodrow is a little sad that he doesn't have a fishing license, as they live within a few yards of the beach (Sitka is on an island in Southeast Alaska). He would have to get a out-of-state license and that is very expensive in Alaska.
My marriage of over two and a half years started breaking up last January and my wife Katherine and I have went our separate ways. It's been an extremely hard thing for me to handle but I'm slowly recovering and I certainly hope that she is also. I really miss my "family" down at Collins Creek. The family consisted of Katherine and I and my five Step-children at home there: Gabe, Cat, Angie, Bridgett, Theresa and Noah (Noah has grown up and has his own place in Scott Bar).
Ronnie Jayme Lynn Clyburn, my youngest daughter has completed her schooling to become a licensed beautician and has been working long hours at the job.
She has had some exciting news recently, her boyfriend, Bill, proposed marriage to her (she accepted) and she is seriously thinking of buying an existing beauty saloon and going into business for herself.
I asked her when she is to be married but she didn't have a set date yet. (Smart girl!) But she hopes for the ceremony to take place in August of ‘98.
I certainly wish her the best both in her marriage and in her business opportunity - hope it all works out for that very special daughter of mine.
Lynda Mae (Clyburn) Thompson has retired from teaching. Yes, she really did it! She retired last summer and has been taking it easy. She was down here in Yreka this summer with her super husband Bill Thompson to visit me and my other sister Darlene Sederstrom who was here from Georgia with her family.
Lynda has recently started substituting for an art teacher in Kenai, Alaska and seems to enjoy it very much. Lynda has been much help to me during my recent trying times and I really appreciate her as a sister, and a friend, more and more as time passes...
Darlene Sederstrom, my younger sister visited me in Yreka, this August with her children. She is my Step-Father's daughter. It was a most wonderful visit. The children, Brea, Cayla, Gina, Troy and Elena were a real joy to have around.
I had just rented a house in Yreka at the time and it is small but cute and when they all showed up - full also!!
I had a real blast! We all went to the Siskiyou Golden Fair together and the children and I became real close in a short time. I really love them!
Darlene had a High School reunion going on here in Yreka and also I had a birthday on August 9th and she wanted to be here for both. She is so close to her children that she chose to drive in order to have the family together. Isn't that great! Lot's of family's aren't that close. I'm really grateful that they all came here together.
She did a lot of visiting while here and when they left I felt an emptiness in my house.
Noah Dice, one of my (ex) Step-children has been working most of the summer in exotic places like Florida. He works for a catering company that caters food to large bicycle races, fund-raisers, fires, and other events.
I spoke to him recently and he is trying to get customers for a telephone company. He said that he will try up around Medford, Oregon.
I asked him "Are you a good salesman." He answered that he didn't know but was going to find out!
Lots of luck to a very nice guy! I hope you make good money - maybe I can borrow some!! Ha.
Thoma (Clyburn) Arnburg, died this summer. She had been living in Missouri since the death of her husband Ross. I didn't see her often but I remember when I was young that she and my mother were the very best of friends. They seen each other often and I distinctly remember my mother (of all things to remember) teaching Thoma to blow smoke out of her nose while smoking.
Those days of innocence!! We'll miss you Thoma.
Don McCanna, Patsy's husband passed away also. He was such a nice person. I hadn't seen him in several years but I've never forgotten just what a very nice person he was.
I've meant to visit Pat and Don so very many times and either I didn't have their address or I didn't have the time or whatever. Anyway I'm sure sorry now that I didn't make a visit.
I certainly hope that all three of the children are well. Do they have families of their own yet?
Pat, I'm sending you a copy of this letter and If you get it please call or write me.
Aunt Fae is still listed as one of the very best things the Clyburn's have produced!
She is not getting any younger and is the last of Grandpa and Grandma's children to still survive. And she does so in a way that is a lesson to the rest of us.
She has so much fun. She goes on trips and visits her daughter Narcie Alexander in Henderson, Nevada more than once a year and just lives life to the fullest. I hope that I can have half the energy she has if I ever get to be her age (which could be doubtful - Ha!)
What I'm saying is that she is still the person that she was when I was a child and I really appreciate her.
Narcie and her two children are well also and are planning to move to Oregon next summer so that Jason can further his college education.
Susan Stewart, Dan E. Clyburn's youngest daughter came to visit me a couple of weeks ago. What fun she is! She brought her six month baby, Cameron. What a joy! He is so special. We became friends in no time!
I had not seen Susan for at least 10 years and wanted many times to visit her while in Crescent City, CA. Well, she sure chewed me out for not visiting her - and of course I deserved it! She is a very wonderful person and stayed with me for several days. She helped with the housework and even ironed my shirts! Can't ask for more than that huh?
I hope she will visit again soon.
I found out that her sister Lisa is currently living in Jacksonville, Oregon. I will send her one of these newsletters. He Lisa!
Oliver Clyburn is the same as he's always been, just a very nice person. Stays at home most of the time! His wife Sandy has been very ill recently with some heart or artery related problems. She has been in the hospital recently. She is one of the very nicest people that I know and I certainly hope she recovers soon. They live in Grenada, CA.
I haven't heard from Dan E. And Marcy Clyburn lately, but I know that they are in the Homer, Alaska area and are in the phone book there. I hope that they are doing well and will send them one of these newsletters.
I hear that Tammy (Clyburn) Jones, my cousin in Homer, Alaska recently had a daughter get married (Tammy is Dan E's daughter of course and the girl getting married would be my 3rd? Cousin). I certainly hope that life treats her very well.
Jim Clyburn is (the last I heard) around Elko, Nevada. I haven't heard from him for a "coon's age" and I wish he would write or visit. He is certainly more than a cousin to me - he's my friend. Jim if you get this in the mail please write me.
Jim's ex-wife and children, as far as I know, are still in Denver, Colorado. I've never seen the children but they are Clyburn's and I'd like to meet them someday.
I haven't' heard form Frank Clyburn (Bud's son) for a long time. Last I heard he was in Washington. (I met him several years back and he sure seems like a nice person.) I'll try to send one of these to him.
I also haven't heard from Dorothey (Clyburn) McKay in Eureka, Nevada - I wonder how she and the children are doing?
I haven't heard from Arlie Clyburn and his wife Kieva in Colburt, Washington either, but I know that Aunt Fae does every now and then. I hope that they are all right and their daughters Ardys (spelling?) And Lori. I hope to hear from all of you.
I hear that Steve & Vicki McMaster are doing fine (still in Anderson, CA) and that their son Wade and his wife Georgeanne have a son Logan and another baby due shortly that they are naming Hunter Steven McMaster. Wade is currently in the air force in Virginia.
I haven't seen Larry McMaster for some time but I know that he's around. I understand that he is logging over around Cecilville, CA.
The latest I've heard of Dave Clyburn is that he and his wife Aleha are living in Newport, Oregon. I don't have the address, but I received this information from their son Scott Clyburn at the Siskiyou Golden Fair this last August in Yreka. I'm not sure what Scott is up to. Their daughter Gladys Genevieve is married to a man named Aron Howard and is currently living in Mt. Home, Idaho. Mr. Howard is in the air force there. (Maybe they are both in the air force?)
Lucille (Johnson) Clyburn seems to be surviving the death of Uncle Joe B. Clyburn and I should get by her house in Yreka to visit her. Seems like I'm just busy all the time.
I recently seen Levi Clyburn, Oliver's son, in Wal-Mart in Yreka. He seemed to be looking good and healthy. I also had a visit from Kimberly Ann Clyburn, Oliver's daughter recently and she is the nicest person! She doesn't look much like Nancy (Freeman) Clyburn, her mother, but she sure acts a lot like her. I see Nancy every now and then and although I haven't sat down and talked with her, she seems OK. I know that she is one of my very favorite people.
I know that I'm leaving many relative out of this but I'm hoping that you'll all write me or call me and tell me what's happening in your lives. I'd truly like to know.
Well folks, I had a birthday this summer. I'm now 25 & 25. Time just flies sometime doesn't it? In my case though, I had another birthday recently. On the 5th of November I celebrated eight years sober. My re-birth, my awakening, whatever you want to call it stated 8 years ago on that date.
What I'm referring to is my AA birthday. Some of you may not know about my alcoholism but some of you may know very well! Anyway I haven't had a drink for over 8 years now and I'm very thankful for it (I'm sure everybody around me is also.) I know that my Clyburn relatives have not had to see me dragging our name through the bookings column in the newspaper lately. Ha.
I am so very much happier than ever in my life - even with my recent divorce. As a direct result of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous I have a spiritual connection that never before was possible, and this summer on August 19th was Baptized by the same priest who married me in 1994.
I have a good, but hard, job at Willow Creek School as the secretary. I really am administrative assistant, without the pay of one, and every day is a new experience for me. Life is not dull anymore! (I recently started learning to square dance.) I don't need a drink and don't need to go to the bar to feel good like I used too.
My mother's (Violet Mae [Knight] [Clyburn] Douglas's uncle Charles Knight (now deceased) had a wife - Blanche. I've just in the last year and a half started to visit with her some. What a wonderful person she is!
She was born to the Dogget Family down the Klamath River and has welcomed me into her life with open arms. She is quite old and has a hard time seeing and hearing, but is still one of the most beautiful people one could ever meet. Aunt blanche lives just outside of Redding, CA.
She has some read good records of my mother's family the Knights of Oak Bar, Klamath River, CA. She has most generously shared those with me.
What a lucky person I am to have such nice relatives.
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