Letter from Verna to her brothers and sisters about their brother Cliff Dawson

 

My Brothers & Sisters:

Monday 11/30/70

Dear Ones:

 

This evening while the last days are fresh in my mind I will write a little about Cliff and the Memorial Service that was this afternoon.

 

He has lingered between life and death for several weeks, at times we thought he knew us, many times we got no response. He did not seem to suffer greatly. The family had been called in at different times thinking he could not last. The children have stood by wonderfully. Paul and Debbie (his [Paul’s] daughter) had stated that they wanted to be by his bedside when he went. The children had stayed all night Thursday night (those that live here). On Friday night they organized into shifts. Paul, Velda and Debbie were taking the 7 to 11 shift. At ten o’clock they saw a change and called the family but he was gone before any of them got there, so Paul and Debbie were the ones standing by as they had desired.

 

I wish you could have seen him after the undertakers were finished, he looked so peaceful and so nice--the girls had picked a black and silver gray tie that just matched his hair. The casket was beautiful, two tone beige and light brown.

 

The service was at the Funeral Home, it was full and the flowers were lovely. Pre Service Organ music was Favorite hymns of Cliffs. Janis sang three songs- those he liked: Pearly White City-- When They Ring Those Golden Bells for You and Me-- It Will Be Worth It All When We See Jesus.

 

Ladd gave the Scripture (copy enclosed)

 

Rev. Slack (Berniece’s former pastor) gave the Obituary in a very personal way that was very fitting even to mentioning the Overalls. He also read a TRIBUTE TO DAD that Eileen had written in the middle of the night (copy enclosed). Eileen took it real hard.

 

Rev. Ingersol (Berniece’s pastor) gave the message "Lord, Who Shall Abide in Thy Tabernacle--He that Hath Clean Hands and Pure Heart.” He did a good job.

 

Pall bearers were Dorothy’s three boys: Ken, Bob, Dick -- Kenneth’s boy Donnie-- Eileen’s Rickie and Pearle’s Jerry. All in all a Lovely Family. Our church furnished the dinner, there were 48 for dinner.

 

Two of Clyde’s girls couldn't make it and Eileen’s Jimmy is in Vietnam. Nondus has done real well, she looks so very frail and I am sure is so weary. I don’t know what the next few days will do to her--the girls are hoping she will go home with Clyde for a while.

 

Carl came from Denver, the Cochrans from D. C. [Dodge City] a load of Clyde’s and Paul’s in-laws from Wichita. We missed you but understand.

VK [Verna Karns]

 

—This carbon copy was in one of the scrapbooks Verna made of family records and memorabilia. The items in brackets were added by Forrest Ladd in preparing the letter for digital records. The Scriptures she refers to are not included here.