Obituary of Cleytus Daily

Cleytus Daily, 97, was reunited in Heaven with the love of her life on December 21, 2020. She passed from her home in The Villages, Florida, with her daughters by her side.

 

She was born August 30, 1923, daughter of Clarence and Emma Derickson. Predeceased by her loving husband Wilbur Daily, her son, William Daily, her granddaughter Amanda, twin great grandsons and her brother, Linn Derickson.  She is survived by her daughters Jean (Michael) Mohler and Beverly Underwood, her son Donald (Cindy) Daily, her daughter-in-law Rebecca Daily, her grandchildren Lori, Scott, Leah, Diana, Daniel, David, Cara, John, Lisa, Kim, Jenni, Chad and her 38 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

 

Born and raised in the area of Hamilton, Ohio, she accepted the Lord as her Savior and was baptized in the Great Miami River at the age of 15. She graduated from Bethesda School of nursing in 1944 as a Registered Nurse.  She moved to Indianapolis, Indiana after falling in love with, and marrying, Wilbur. There she raised her family and practiced private-duty nursing. Her interests included duplicate bridge, sewing, upholstery, calligraphy, clowning and reading.

 

After retirement, she and Wilbur became snowbirds and then moved permanently to Tavares, Florida in 1984 where they lived for many years.   She and Wilbur enjoyed their active membership in Mid-Lakes Christian Church. She moved to The Villages in 2019 to be near her children.

 

She was deeply loved by her family. As one of her grandchildren noted, she made everyone feel important, loved, listened to and special.

 

In 2000 she sent the following note to her children.

“Dearest Children,

We have reached that age when many of our friends are ill and dying, so we begin to wonder when it is our turn.  Our prayer is that we may not linger in this old world because we know there is a much better place and we are assured of a home there.  Not for any good works that we have done but what the Lord did for us and even when we are so undeserving.   However, we have acknowledged to the Lord and before the church that we have accepted God as our LORD and Savior and I hope that we have lived our lives in such a fashion.

Love, Mom”

 

          AFTER

 

After the toil and the heat of the day,

After her troubles are past,

After the sorrows are taken away,

She has seen Jesus at last.

 

After the heartaches and sighing’s have ceased,

After the cold winters blast,

After the conflict, comes glorious peace,

She has seen Jesus at last.

 

After the shadows of evening have fallen,

After her anchor was cast,

After she heard her Savior’s call,

She has seen Jesus at last.

 

He was waiting for her,

Jesus, so kind and true,

He did welcome her home,

After the day was through

 

 

NOTES FROM GRANDCHILDREN

 

I will miss her laugh.

I will miss her intentional listening.

I will miss her letters written in red ink.

I will miss the way she wanted everyone to feel welcome.

——————

Because of her:

I appreciate my family.

I want to play games with my grandchild and let them put the cross marks on the cookies when we make peanut butter cookies.

I appreciate an organized home and how things should be organized

 Lori

 

We are, of course, very sad to hear the news. Yet at the same time rejoice for her that she has her heart's desire to see grandpa, dad, and the others who have gone on before her.  She certainly spoke and wrote these last few years often of wanting to see them again.

I think the word that I heard from others the most to describe her was classy.  I can recall several friends saying it the first time they met her. She was always so polite and kind, the example of a perfect hostess. She and grandpa were so supportive of me over the years. She will truly be missed; I can still see her smile and hear her laugh. Words fail me, but nobody could have asked for a kinder, more loving grandmother.

Scott

 

(A note sent to Cleytus in May 2020)

“My Favorite Nurse”

This last week was nurses’ week and it is capped off with Mother’s Day. I couldn’t stop thinking about my grandmother. She is the reason that I went into nursing. I was sure blessed when God picked out my grandparents. They are such special people that love and serve God and their family so well. I can’t tell Grandpa these things as I’m sure he heard much better words (“Well done, good and faithful servant”) from our Savior when he went to heaven almost 19 years ago. He and my dad are no doubt singing in their wonderful booming voices “It is Well” like never before with my sweet nephews around the throne of God! Oh, how I can’t wait to join them! 

 

My grandparents are those extremely rare type of people that make everyone feel important, loved, listened to, and special (just ask their grandkids, we will all tell you we felt like the favorite). Grandpa fell hard for Grandma from the day he saw her from behind. He never stopped serenading her! He’s the reason I know the song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”.  He called her his blue-eyed sweetheart. He gave me the name little blue-eyed sweetheart which I hold so precious and proudly. Grandpa wrote about the summer of ‘38. “She was standing there in the church yard with her back turned to me, but for some reason I couldn't take my eyes off of her.  When she finally turned around, the front side was even better.  One of my friends, Robert Shockley, said that he knew her and introduced us.  Well, my life was forever changed.  She wanted to sit in church, morning, afternoon and night - so we did.  No more sneaking out to see my friends.” Grandma was good at keeping him in line. She is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. She overflows with these fruits of the Spirit. I am forever indebted to her for faithfully living the gospel out in front of her children. God graciously used her and Grandpa to draw my parents to salvation.

 

My grandma was an amazing nurse. At 96, she still practices as all of her children have moved within a mile of her (you know how needy kids can be with their boo-boos). She even worked decades ago at the same hospital that I am at. In the early 40s she was caring for the maternity ward at a hospital in Louisiana. They used to have one nurse cover two floors: one floor for “whites” and one for what they called “colored”. She was reprimanded for calling a black woman by Mrs. and then her last name. Back then in the south, black women were not given a title but only to be called by their first or last name when necessary. I am so enraged that racism still has a foothold on this nation today. Eighty years later and the injustices are not just about names but lives. I am praying that God heals this sickening brokenness of racism. I am praying for the families that are hurting because of these gross injustices. But today, I’m rejoicing! I was raised in a family that defied racism and celebrated the sanctity of all life. My grandma and I believe that all life has value, all were created in God’s image, and, at the very least, all deserve respect. She made such an impact by simply respecting and giving great care for those women on the “colored floor”. One patient appreciated Grandma’s kindness so much that she named her sweet black baby after Grandma. How beautiful is that? I am so incredibly proud to be her granddaughter. 

 

Grandma, thank you so much for your humble, gracious service to our family and country. You practiced nursing throughout different states but I have no doubt that you gave every patient, no matter their age, race, or disease, incredible care. I will forever remember the sweet visits we had: riding bikes, playing games, handstand contests at the pool, ice cream runs, fresh squeezed Florida orange juice, boat rides, fishing, and playing more games. We loved all the letters with Big Red gum and $2 bills, the treasure hunts, the clowning, and many tricks and pranks that brought us endless laughter. I know you have longed to join Grandpa since his home going. But I, selfishly, have loved having you here with us. I love you so much. I thank God for His great blessing to me and countless others in knowing you. 

 

Lord, I pray that you bless my Grandma greatly today. Please give her health and happiness to enjoy today and all her days. Thank you for your goodness to our family in blessing us with such an amazing legacy. I thank you that “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” Bring your justice, grace, and mercy to our nation. Deliver us from evil. Please come back soon, my Savior. I long for Your kingdom to come and your will to be done. Please forgive me for not loving all people as Christ loves us. Help me to overflow with your kindness and joy. Speak, oh Lord, til your church is built and the whole earth is filled with Your glory. Amen. 

Diane

 

 

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