Edith Elmira Edens

  General Notes:

Edith Clowdus Preston, age 92, of Oklahoma City and formerly of Olustee, passed away at her daughter's home in Oklahoma City late Friday evening, May 29, 2009. Mrs. Preston was born at Hess, Oklahoma, on June 22, 1916, to Milton Luther and Nellie May (Black) Edens. At an early age, the family moved to the Harmony Community, south of Olustee, where she attended school. After meeting the love of her life, Paul Hayden Clowdus, she quit school before the second semester of her senior year, and they married in 1934. Hayden was engaged in farming and worked as a heavy-duty equipment mechanic and welder. For a few short years after their marriage, they spent time in California and the Texas Panhandle, where Hayden farmed. After moving back to the Olustee Community in 1952, Hayden continued to farm and work at Altus Air Force Base and the area missile silos, while Edith took care of the duties at home with the raising of three children. Edith eventually began working at the Olustee Cotton Gin when she was needed, and after Hayden's death on March 30, 1967, she worked at Scoggins Cattle Company, Altus Glass and Mirror, the City of Altus, and as a real estate agent and broker for Burl Winters. One of the highlights of Edith's life was going back to school and graduating with her son, Larry, from Olustee High School in 1965. As an avid OU fan, Edith enjoyed sports of all types and cooking and sewing. A faithful member of the Church of Christ for many years, Edith loved spending time with her family and friends and attending worship services with her church family at the Southwest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. Preceded in death by her parents her husband, Paul Hayden Clowdus her husband, Frank Preston one son, Lonnie Paul Clowdus six brothers and one sister she is survived by two children, Linda Zane Sanders and husband Gene of Oklahoma City and Larry Clowdus and wife Judy of Oklahoma City seven grandchildren: Paul Hayden Clowdus and wife Yolanda of El Paso, Texas Kim Robbins of Oklahoma City Kristi Sanders of Oklahoma City Kala Leger and husband Jason of Newcastle April Kaaiohelo and husband Jason of Edmond Nancy Mack and husband Jay of Tulsa and Jon Clowdus and wife Stephanie of Oklahoma City eleven great- grandchildren one sister in law along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Edith will be buried by her beloved Hayden at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at the Olustee Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Chapel with Bill Osborne officiating. A visitation will follow the memorial service at the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home of Altus. Mrs. Clowdus will lie in state on Monday, June 1, 2009, from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home. Online tributes may be made to the family at: www.Lowell-Tims.com


Published in The Oklahoman on 6/1/2009

Second husband Frank William Preston 18 Jan 1919-19 Dec 1997 was the son of Walter Mar Preston and Julia McMullen.

Edith married Paul Hayden Clowdus, son of John Oscar Clowdus and Jonnie Louise Neal, in 1934. (Paul Hayden Clowdus was born on 4 Jul 1916 in Texas, died on 30 Mar 1967 and was buried in Olustee Cemetery, Olustee, Jackson County, Oklahoma ¹.)

Edith next married Frank Preston.