I met Clyde in the summer of 1985 when I was just a boy. I didn't even have a drivers license yet.  He had this old Nash car that was built around the 1940's or something like that.  He had it parked in his garage and rarely brought it out.  One weekend day, he asked me if I wanted to go for a ride with him in his Nash.  I was pleased to go with him.  He drove it all the way to Waukegan, Illinois just to get some gas in the car. On the way, he would tell stories of old and we would laugh and have a good time. Then he would fill the Nash with gas turn the car around and drive straight back home.   I guess that's what he did.  He just would get the car out and go put gas in it.  He really loved that old Nash.

   I regretfully didn't know of Clyde's passing right away, for I was in California training in the Marines that sad, December day.  When I did get the news, about 10 days later.  I was so heart broken for he was such a kind man. I always felt bad that I couldn't say good-bye at his funeral.

  Clyde loved his family dearly and he was always there for me.  I miss the Michigan State hockey games we would watch together, I miss our talks, I miss his smile and laugh and I miss our rides in the Nash together.   
Clyde was truly one of the kindest men I ever knew...  
  No, he WAS the kindest man I ever knew. 

Good-bye, Clyde.

  

Not a  day goes by since my father passed that I don't think about him, if I was a better daughter, or something along those lines could I have done something different would he still be here with me today,  but as the days turned into years and this year will be 28 yrs ago I try to remember what he smelled like or the sound of his voice even but I will always have what he looked like embedded in my mind and the love he gave me in my heart and my name. I miss you so much Daddy I love you.