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 Texas : Features : Columns : Bob Bowman's East Texas

A life of hardships

by Bob Bowman
Bob Bowman

When you start worrying about the hardships life has thrown at you, consider the plight of the Clyde Thurman Owens family of Henderson County.

Clyde was a good ‘ol hardworking East Texas road builder who had to travel where the jobs were available.

In 1936, he met and married the love of his life, Anna Louise Schuyler.

While in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1940, Clyde took his family to see “Boomtown Annie,” when his wife went into labor and was rushed to a hospital. That’s where Linda Ann was born even though her Uncle Speck wanted to name her Boomtown Annie. Clyde nicknamed her Punkin.

The Owens finally wound up in Waco, three years later, where Larry Elton Owens was born. But when he was a year old, he became sick with scarlet fever and doctors found out he had Cystic Fibrosis as well.

Larry’s parents found out they were carriers of Cystic Fibrosis and told the couple if they had any more children, they would likely have Cystic Fibrosis as well.

It was a hard blow because Mrs. Owens was already expecting. When Barbara Sue arrived, she, too, had Cystic Fibrosis. But the family tried to make the best of the bad luck.

In 1947, life became more complicated for Clyde. An accident took the life of his beloved wife and Linda Ann was unconscious for a month. When she awoke she could not walk, feed herself or see. It didn’t take long for her to relearn how to walk and feed herself.

Clyde moved his family to Henderson County where he had grown up. His parents helped him take care of his kids while he worked.

In 1947, Linda was accepted at the School for the Blind in Austin where she learned to read and write in Braille.

Larry lost his battle with Cystic Fibrosis in 1955 and his sister Barbara succumbed to the disease in 1963.

Clyde lived until November 12, 1976, when he died from a Brain aneurism. He tried to fight it, but was not strong enough to pull through the operation.

“I miss him very much,” said Linda Ann Phillips. “He raised me and I give him the credit for how I turned out. I didn’t give up when I became blind, I just kept trying,” she recalled.

She adds: “I love you, Clyde Thurman Owens, and thank you for everything you did for me and for standing by me all of the time. I know you’re with God. I hope you’re watching over me and my family. I really think you would love all of them. I’m proud you’re my Dad. I miss you. Love, Punkin. “

Bob Bowman's East Texas May 9, 2010 Column
A weekly column syndicated in 70 East Texas newspapers
Copyright Bob Bowman

(Bob Bowman of Lufkin is the author of more than 40 books about East Texas. He can be reached at bob-bowman.com)
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