This is our Uncle Clyde Parrish. He was the only sibling Daddy had that lived past young childhood. He was six years younger than Daddy.

Mom said Uncle Clyde married very young. I do not have the date. He married Pauline McDonald. At some point they moved to Paducah, Kentucky. I think it was around 1959 when they moved to Wichita, Kansas. I remember when I was about four or five they came to visit us. I don't remember a lot but Uncle Clyde brought me a piggy bank filled with change. I remember Pauline's mother was with them. I am not sure if her father came with them.

Uncle Clyde never had children and that is sad. He would have made a great father. He was warm and loving. He adored children or at least he did us. We didn't get to see him often but when we did he tried to make sure it was special.

I was about nine years old when Daddy, Mom and I drove to Wichita to visit Uncle Clyde. This is Uncle Clyde and me in his living room. He was so excited to have us visit him and I think he took me to every amusement park around. We went to Dodge City which was great. I rode a stage coach and drank coke in Miss Kitty's saloon. Another park we went to had animated Nursery Rhyme characters. It also had all kinds of rides. I remember it had a monster roller coaster and I ask Uncle Clyde if he would ride it with me. He stood and watched it for a while and I know he was trying to get up the courage because he didn't want to disappoint me. But after watching it he said, "Baby you don't want your Uncle Clyde to have a heart attack do you." I had a camera with me and every time we went some where Uncle Clyde would buy me more film. Daddy finally told Uncle Clyde he had to stop buying me film because it was going to take a years pay to have them developed. All those photo's burned up in Daddy's house in 1971. The only photo left is the one above.

Pauline and Uncle Clyde divorced in the late 70's or early 80's. Uncle Clyde dropped out of sight until Daddy received a phone call a couple of days before this photo was made. Two elderly ladies had been letting him live in their garage. He was drinking so much they were worried he would die. Daddy and Odell drove to Kansas and brought him back to Chester County. He was in pretty bad shape. The above photo was made at Chickasaw Park the day after they returned and Uncle Clyde seemed confused. It was months before he could remember that I was grown and my ten year old daughter wasn't me. It broke my heart to see him like that. But he got better.

 The above photo was made Christmas of 1984 at my house. Uncle Clyde was doing much better and seemed to enjoy himself. Daddy, Uncle Clyde, Brenda and her children spent the night. We sat eating and talking most of the night. It was great!

One Saturday morning in 1985 Odell and Uncle Clyde showed up at my house for a surprise visit. I had been sitting up all night going over my family tree information. I was sitting at the bar with paper work scattered all over and coffee in hand. I looked like death warmed over. Odell ask what I was doing and when I told him they both became very interested. Then Uncle Clyde said he remembered mammy had some brothers that went to Texas. I perked right up. I ask if he knew their names and he said it seemed like they were Hayde and Tom. I then ask can you by any chance remember where. He said no. After we talked a while he said, "You know I may be wrong but I think they were in a place called Post." Well I picked up the phone and called information and ask for the phone number and address of the newspaper for Post, Texas. I wrote the Dear Editor asking for anyone who might know Tom or Hayde Parrish to please write me. In a few weeks I began getting letters from all the family. It was great. Thank you Uncle Clyde!

Christmas 1985 Uncle Clyde was sick and didn't get to come for Christmas. He thought he had the flu! It wasn't the flu, he had cirrhosis of the liver. He didn't live but a few weeks. He told my sister, Bonnie that Daddy sure was lucky to have children who loved him and he wouldn't have to die alone. Bonnie told him we loved him also and we would be with him. He was so sweet and he died an awful death. Odell's Wife, Kay was sitting beside him when he died. He was not alone.

Our memories of Uncle Clyde are great ones and will never be forgotten!