William Clyde Berryhill was born on November 4th, 1926 in McCook, Nebraska. He was the 3rd of 11 children, born to William Carlos and Mollie Sue Berryhill. He had 5 brothers and 5 sisters, Phillis, J.C., James, Bob, Ray, Ruth, Monnie B, Billie Sue, Mary, and David. He went to be with the Lord on the 23rd of November, 2021 in Tyler.
He enlisted in the United States Navy on February 7th, 1945. He embarked on a destroyer ship called the USS Donald W. Wolf on the 22nd of June, 1945 in San Diego, California. From there they sailed to Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok before arrival at Buckner Bay, Okinawa on the 4th of September. During his service, he was a part of an underwater demolition team that helped with the capture and redistribution of Japanese forces from China. His job on land was to patrol the China Wall in search of Japanese soldiers. He also was a gunner on the destroyer that led to the collapse of many bridges and ships. He also spent time on a submarine. His tour led him from Jinsen, Korea, Okinawa, Japan, and to various regions of China including Tintsin, Chefoo, Peking and Tsingtao. Clyde always said, “Most people don’t know that when you sign up for the Navy, you also sign up for the Marines.” After reaching American shores, he set out to train women soldiers in San Diego as part of the Marines.
After his military service, he came home and met his wife, Frances. Frances says they met at a cafe that had a jukebox, and eventually started “going with each other to the show.” They married on the 18th of March, 1956. They traveled to California where he worked in the Redwood forests, logging, for a cotton mill, as a Ginner, and in the strawberry and hay fields, as a foreman. After 9 years, they came home to Hugo, Oklahoma and welcomed their first son, Jeffery Clyde Berryhill in 1966. They later had another son, Gary Wayne Berryhill in 1968.
Clyde only had a 3rd grade education, but he taught himself many, many skills. He worked as a carpenter, welder, and pipe fitter. He loved to fish and hunt, grow big gardens, was an accomplished fruit tree grafter, and loved to collect items from auctions, garage sales, and flea markets. He was quite a salesman and knew the value of hard work. There was nothing that he couldn’t fix “to make a dollar.” His ingenuity and persistence is what allowed him to support his family through the years.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Mills Berryhill of Clarksville;1 son, Jeff C. Berryhill and wife, DeeAnn of Troup; 2 granddaughters: Callie Berryhill Burris and husband, Will of Redwater, and Jaycee Berryhill of Troup.
To know Clyde, was to know that he unconditionally and unapologetically witnessed for the Lord. His favorite thing to do was go to flea markets and witness to those passing by. He always said, “You’ve got to have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost in your heart. That’s the only way you’re going to get into heaven.” He loved his granddaughters and he loved his family deeply, with everything he had. He never took anything for granted, met you with a firm handshake, and you knew you could always trust his word. His salt of the Earth character transpired through his legacy, his sons and his granddaughters. The world is a better place because Clyde was in it, and because Christ was within him.
Graveside services are set for 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 26, 2021, at Blanton Creek Cemetery with Rev. Ray McGregor officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home.
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