Audrey's Eldest Son - 1921-2015

Audrey's second child and eldest son, Harold Leroy Barclay, passed away last Friday at the age of 94. Remembering him mostly from my childhood, I think of him as a dignified man, the most serious of Audrey's nine children, not inclined to cut up or participate in the kind of frivolous banter that occurs sometimes when large families gather. I could be wrong, of course, and if I am, I hope someone who knew him better will correct me.

The only time I saw Harold after I reached adulthood was in 1996 at a family reunion in Springfield, MO. We talked on the phone a couple of times after that, and he kindly thought to send me a packet of family history he knew I'd find interesting.

Harold lost his beloved wife, Emogene, in 2012, after 70 years of marriage. I can only imagine he was ready to be reunited with her.

Here's a photo of Harold as a boy, a member of a rag-tag baseball team:

Harold Barclay - mid-1930s

And here's how he looked at that 1996 reunion, hardly changed at all except for the color of his hair:

Harold L. Barclay - July 1996

Rest in peace, Uncle Harold. No doubt Grandma Audrey is glad to have you home.