This is the story of Clair E Sidwell born March 23rd 1921 in Ogden Utah. Son to Barbara and Eugene Sidwell. Clair grew up in the depression in the 1920's and 30's. His father Gene was a steam shovel operator and wasn't home much. He took his own life when Clair was only 5 years old. Times were very hard. Nobody had any money. His mother Barbara Parker Sidwell was forced to put Clair and his sister Betty in a nursing home in North Ogden. She went to work for Scocrofts Never Rip Overalls Co. as a seamstress. She worked very hard for very little pay. After about one year she was able to take them out and support them on her own. In 1927 she met and married a house painter named Clair Oram. They lived on Franklin street with him for about 10 years. At this time Clair and his sister attended Washington school. In 1937 they divorced and Barbara and the 2 children moved into a house at 231 22nd St.. between Grant and Lincoln avenues. In 1938 Clair started at Ogden High school. Times were still very hard and he worked small jobs to help with expenses. They paid $8 a month rent. They lived okay through the years before World War II. Barbara met and married Gene Tittensor. Clair met his future wife Cleo Stone. They were married September of 1942. Clair was drafted in November of the same year. He spent some time in Fort Custer Michigan (or Battle Creek). Then he shipped out from New York on the Queen Elizabeth for England. He remembers this as "a great ride". He was based in London and drove a truck for 8 or 9 months in southern England. After D-Day he went to Normandy France and moved to Paris. During this time he was notified of the birth of daughter Kay by way of telephone pole. While driving his truck he came across a note attached to a telephone pole that informed one Clair Sidwell that he had a newborn baby girl waiting for him when he got home. As the war was coming to an end. Clair was shipped to Germany and then to Antwerp Belgium where he shuttled men from the train to the ship to be sent home. Finally it was his turn to go home. In November of 1945 arrived in Norfolk Virginia and shortly after came home to Utah to take up his life as husband and new father. He and Cleo bought a house on 1848 Van Buren. They lived there for 4 years. During that time Kristy was born. Clair started doing autobody & painting work. This didn't pay very well so he went to work at Hill Air Force Base. Its about 1950 now the Korean war is going on. The family moved to a little place called Barker Court. In 1953 Guy was born and Karen came along in 1960. The Clair and Cleo Sidwell family did well for a good while. Then Cleo was diagnosed with a terrible illness, schizophrenia. At that day and age this devastating disease was not fully understood and effective medication was not available. Clair and Cleo tried several times to make things work but by the mid 60's they divorced for the last time. Kay had grown up and married Brent Stephens and begun her own life. (this turned out better than Clair had originally predicted, over the years they have given him 8 grand-children and 11 great grand-children and have been married ever since). The courts granted custody of Kristy, Guy and Karen to Clair. They continued to live in Barker Court, the kids went to school and Clair worked in autobody. About this time in his infinite wisdom and good taste with a woman by the name of Judy Morgan. She had 3 kids 2 girls and 1 boy, he had 3 kids at home 2 girls and 1 boy. A match made in heaven right, well not quite. He married her and they bought a house at 169 Quincy. This lasted for 4 years. In the divorce he managed to keep the house and therefore a place to continue raising his children. By this time Kristy had met and married Edward Olsen and started her own life. It was just Guy and Karen left. When Guy graduated high school he joined the Navy. Clair continued to work autobody, by this time making quite a good reputation for himself around the Ogden area. Karen graduated high school in 1979 and moved on with her life soon to marry Rich Riddle. Clair had successfully and pretty much single-handed (with only occasional help from his mother and other relatives) raised Kristy, Guy and Karen. They all did well in school and graduated high school something he was never able to do. They went on to college or military service and have families of their own and are doing him proud. In the late 70's Clair met a beautiful little lady by the name of June Christensen. In 1980 he made one of the most intelligent moves of his life and married her. He sold his house on Quincy and moved to Hooper where she had a lovely home to share with him. He built a shop in her back yard where he did some extra work for friends and family. He stores his 1935 Packard there as well. In 1985 his mother Barbara passed away. He had some struggles with Betty over her estate and belongings but came through it all right. He managed to get some cherished items she had promised to his children and a few himself. Clair has retired now and still married to June. He continues to work on his cars in his shop. He has fully restored a 1959 Chevy truck that he drives every day. He is almost finished with a 1955 Mercury that belonged to his mother. And continues to work on his Packard.

From the birth of the man has come 3 daughters and 1 son. 7 grand-daughters, 7 grand-sons—7 great grand-daughters, 5 great grand-sons. Since he married June he has added 1 step daughter, 2 step sons. One of them Dee Christensen passed away recently. 11 step grand-children and 4 step great grand-children with another on the way.

To wrap up in his own words "Getting toward the end of my life now, but I haven't given up yet. See you around"

Written by
Clair E. Sidwell

Slightly rearranged by
KSR