Claudia B. York

"What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, and I look upon His face -- the One who saved me by His grace; When He takes my by the hand, and leads me through the promised land, What a day, glorious day that will be!" Claudia Barbara York, 84, entered into the promised land on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 from Madrone Hospice in Yreka California. She was born in Sioux City, Iowa on November 10, 1925 to Clyde and Barbara Metcalf. Missouri and Southern California were childhood homes. In 1947, she married her collage sweetheart, Bernard William York from Montague. They started their life together on Strawberry Lane in Ashland, OR, and two years later moved to the ranch on York Road. She lived there for 46 years before moving to Cedar Street in Yreka. Claudia was a Memory Maker and one of her favorite lines was "Memories are Forever". She was a letter writer, loved post cards, traveling, pizza, See's candy, books, her famous sour dough pancakes...all memories that remind us of her. Music was her love. Her piano, always was dusted and in the center of attention in her home. She was church pianist for many, many years. Gospel music was above all her favorite. She enjoyed her family, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren. She wanted a four- generation picture with each one of them. Most of all, she loved her Lord and her Bible. She was a dreamer. One of those dreams was to finish college. In 1988 at the age lf 62, she graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Studies, Humanities, and Fine Performing Arts. When someone asked what she was going to do with her degree, she said, "I am going to retire!" What a time we had with all her children and grandchildren and host of friends at her graduation party. She was a charter member of the Church of the Nazarene in Yreka and served faithfully and lovingly. Surviving her are sons, James (Ginny) York, Canyonville, OR, Dennis (Caroline) York, Sacramento, CA, Richard (Dana) York, Montague, CA, and her daughter, Joyce Spears, Murfreesboro, TN. Five grandchildren, Sean (Tami) McDowell, Irvine, CA, Chad McDowell, Nashville, TN, Rod (Miranda) York, Stockton, CA, Melissa (Jason) Franks, Fort Jones, CA, Sara Blackmun, Murfreesboro, TN. Eight great-grandchildren, Emma McDowell, Ashton and Riley York, Shelby, Shealynn, Brea, and Brody Franks, and Deacon Blackmun, and her sister, Bonnie Carvey. There are many more family members who were so much a part of her life. Claudia is preceded in death by her husband, Bernard, her parents, Clyde and Barbara Metcalf, two half-sisters, Alice Miller and Bessie Smith, and her brother, James Clyde Metcalf. A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, July 19, 2010 at 11:00am at the Church of the Nazarene on Evergreen Lane in Yreka, CA. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. A time of visitation will be Sunday evening, July 18, 2010, 5:00pm -7:00pm at the Girdner Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Madrone Hospice at 255 Collier Cir. Yreka, Ca.96097 or to the building fund at the Yreka Church of the Nazarene. Memories are forever! Thank you Mom for the life you lived and the legacy you left. We love you and we miss you.

Claudia B. York

November 10, 1925 - July 13, 2010