Charlaine Marie Anderson
By Bob Chope, based on information provided by C'Anne Anderson
Charlaine Marie (nee Davis) Anderson was born in Oklahoma in 1923. She was the daughter of Dr. Benjamin Davis and Charlotte Augusta (nee Davies) Davis. Her father is described as an "early horse-and-buggy doctor."
Charlaine graduated from Cushing High School in 1940 and Hockaday Junior College in 1942. She also attended the University of Oklahoma with summer school studies in Mexico.
Charlaine married Oscar Samuel Anderson, Jr. in March 1945. They had the following children: C'Anne, Sue, Nick, Linda, Ben, Bruce, Becky and Leslie. She has eighteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Quoting from her obituary: "Charlaine adored her family and many friends, and welcomed them all into her life, considering so many of her friends as part of her extended family. She enjoyed the privilege of traveling and had friends in many far away places. Throughout her life, Charlaine enjoyed being involved in Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, school activities of her children, and volunteering for the hospital auxiliary and her church."
Charlaine left instructions that she did not want a eulogy. Instead, her minister used words written in her own hand for a bible study group.
"As a young child I remember my mother singing hymns as she worked. I learned many hymns long before I could read.
Through the years into old age I have remembered the hymn 'God Will Take Care of You.' It begins 'Be not dismayed whatever betide. God will take care of you.'
This line has guided me through the many and various problems of life.
Each of us has and will continue to have testing. We know from Scripture that God tests us as he tested the Israelites and people through the ages. We have His promise, however, that He will be with us (Isaiah 41:10).
Whatever the problems, major or minor, He is always with us. We can trust Him. We can rely on Him. He is our hope and our salvation."
Cousin Charlaine left us on June 21, 2007.
A modest woman, Charlaine left instructions that her passing should be marked, as her daughter C'Anne stated, the old fashion way "without a lot of pomp and show."
The photo on the left appeared in "Old Nick" with this article. The one on the right shows Charlaine with Ralph Bryant, her sister Deloris and her daughter C'Anne at the 1998 Davies Reunion.
Author's note:
As the August, 2007 issue of "Old Nick" was ready to go to publication, the sad news arrived of the passing of one the original members of the Davies Family of Pebbleton Family Organization. When Cousins Ralph Bryant, Dave Boyle and I decided in 1997 that a regularly published family newsletter would be the best way to disseminate family genealogical and historical information Charlaine and her sister, Deloris Isted, were among the first 23 on the mailing list. Charlaine's interest in the Davies family, both past and present, never waned. She and her sister were both in attendance at the first Davies family reunion held by our organization in 1998 and have supported the organization throughout its existence by providing cash contributions, information and abundant moral support. Her passing is a great loss to all of us.
In genealogy we gather facts about our ancestors who are long gone, and from these facts we speculate about their personalities. No amount of speculation, however, offers us as much insight into the minds and hearts of our kin than the words they wrote down. Certainly from the words that Charlaine has left for us we can come to know her as a gentle, religiously devout and loving person, who also displayed great modesty and reserve.