The Family Called Hyde

 By Marvelle Hyde Noble

Clarence Hyde was a dashing young man about town

Who gave all the girls the big run around.

But a girl named Floy Day who hardly even tried

Made Clarence decide to establish The Family Called Hyde.

They had lots of plans and waited for joys.

Which they thought would come in the form of sweet little boys.

But they were in for four pink little surprises

And discovered joys can come in different disguises. 

Marvelle, Lester Ann, Shirley, Colleen,

Each mother's darling...each Daddy's queen.

Marvelle was the first one to start the group. 

Her mother claimed she was always in the soup.

But every family needs a little spice

And actually, Marvelle was really quite nice.

Lester Ann was the next to appear on the scene,

She wasn't too bad 'til she reached her teens.

Well there was that one time she iced the bread

When Mom had hired men to be fed.

Shirley came when we lived in Rosemary,

We thought she'd been brought by a Santa Claus fairy.

Lester Ann and Marvelle didn't think she was much of a deal

Why all she could do was holler and squeal. 

Then off to Boundary Creek we went in an old Ford truck,

Shirley was put in a shopping bag when we got stuck in the muck.

Mom sat on the oven door and she sure cried.

She thought times were tough in The Family Called Hyde.

Marvelle rode to school on an old tame horse.

Wind, rain, snow, gates and turned saddles were all a matter of course.

We were snowed in for 48 days - we had no telephone lines

Now we laugh and say - - "those were the good old times."

Off to Taber - Daddy bought a farm and home too.

Lester Ann started school - everything new.

Daddy worked at the sugar factory - just for fun,

Worked late at night only to be up again with the sun.

What's this? Mom's wearing dresses that look like a tent?

Another surprise was soon to be sent.

We all waited patiently for when the baby was due,

She came home in pink - we decided we didn't like blue.

Her sisters adored the baby called Colleen,

She had more mothers than you've ever seen.

You can't say Daddy hadn't really tried -

But there were all girls in The Family Called Hyde.

A lot has happened in The Family Called Hyde.

In the past years we've laughed and we've cried.

The family was normal in almost all things - 

We hoed betts, picked cucumbers and beans.

They thought their family would always be thus so, 

But off their oldest decided to go.

She wanted to get married - she wanted free

Of the tied of her home life, Mother and Dad,

And get married to one of those Cardston lads.

But soon the diapers flew free on the line - 

The father pulled thru - the mother felt fine.

The doctor spanked her bottom and she sure cried,

The first grandchild, another girl to add to The Family Called Hyde.

Soon Kelly Ree was followed by two little boys,

All of which were noted for lots of noise.

But that didn't matter cause Kelly, Scott and Brad

Were also noted for never - well, hardly ever, being bad.

Lester Ann was the next one to leave home - 

To Lethbridge she had decided to roam.

Her boyfriend had left on a Denmark mission

And she decided to start fulfilling her life's ambitions.

Then we all remember that dreadful day

When Heavenly Father called Kelly away.

We all sit and fondly reminisce -

As she is still very much missed.

We didn't say "goodbye" - she just went away.

Her brothers still talked to her in their play.

It's hard for us to understand - 

But God must have needed her in another place

To give it beauty, love and grace.

We know she lives in a heavenly sphere

Giving of herself as she did here.

Fulfilling her destiny - an infinite plan -

That we hope, someday to understand.

Time was the universal healer of all - 

Gayle came home from his mission call.

And Lester Ann and Gayle wasted no time - 

Til Gayle could say, "Lester Ann - be mine."

The Noble house just wasn't the same

And so they decided to send in their name.

And got Nickee Lynn - the sweetest little girl, 

All pink, cuddly with pretty long curls.

Because of her mischief she should really be tied,

But she fits right into The Family Called Hyde.

Shirley then flew away from the nest - 

She was ready to put life to the test.

Off to Foremost - she wouldn't shirk

To do the hard County of 40 Mile's work.

But Foremost isn't very far from Skiff

And a guy named Bailie started to drift

Into town every other night - 

And pretty soon as a couple they looked just right.

About this time it was obvious there'd be another child

To add to the grandchildren of The Family Called Hyde.

Little Dawn came all cute, pink and well - 

You should have seen old Gayle's chest swell.

Then there's Gaylene - a cute little pill

Who tries - but just can't sit very still.

She has big blue eyes that really appeal

And that goes double for her brother, a boy named Neil.

Some say that he looks like the Jensen side - 

But he's truly part of The Family Called Hyde.

The Bailies made a decision one day

And so they had our darling Paula Kay.

She's the best baby - why she's never cried!

And she's the latest grandchild - so far - in The Family Called Hyde.

That left only our baby Colleen at home - 

And we hoped she would stay awhile before starting to roam.

She had all the boys on a long long string

And we knew that one of them home she would eventually bring - 

We knew he'd have to be as good as Cliff, Gayle and Gordon -

  (who by the way have been proven and tried)

As we wanted him to fit into The Family Called Hyde.

So now we have our new family - Randy - Colleen,

Isn't she the most beautiful bride you've ever seen?

Our joy and our blessing --our love and our pride,

Go out to you - The Andersons from The Family Called Hyde.

Andersons were soon blessed on a bright sunny day

With a sweet little bundle they called Heidi Rae.

Shirley and Gordon couldn't be outdone

So gave us our angel, Jody, a sweet baby son.

It was soon becoming a family concern.

To see who would be next and have their "baby turn"

Colleen won - a pink banner blew free

And we got out beautiful Kara Lee.

Each family is busy - following paths, riding life's tide,

But each proud to be part of The Family Called Hyde.

Nobles lived through three teenagers - "life was sweet ! ? !"

Marvell and Cliff work together - one goal complete.

Gayle has been to all the world's ports

And still has time to teach his children the love of sports.

Lester Ann is our creator of all arts and crafts

And just for fun makes Relief Society sisters laugh.

Bailies' family is still quite young

Their blessings and joys have just begun

Gordon can make your telephone ring

Shirley can still make your heart sing!

Andersons work hard - and I ain't lying

They couldn't be left behind so they had Ryan.

He's a real man - takes his mom for a ride

And fits right in with The Family Called Hyde.

Four sons-in-law, 12 grand and 1 great for Clarence and Floy.

It's amazing what can be done with four girls and no boys.

Each one represents a talent - a part of destiny

Each a part of our ring of eternity.

We all thought our babies would stay by our side

But time doesn't even stand still for The Family Called Hyde.

New members have been added along the way

For instance when Lani became Brad's bride one beautiful day.

Then we waited and waited for great grand babies to come,

It was worth it! Because we got our darlin' Dustyn John.

Today we pay tribute to our Mom and our Dad

Not only for their example - but their life

For standing together - forever as husband and wife.

And to fulfill their life's ambition

To go far from home to their Nauvoo mission.

Fifty-five years they've stood side by side,

Our parents - the creators of  the Family Called Hyde.

Nickee, Dawn and Gaylene

Princesses - soon to be queens

Of Cameron, Duane and Allen

  new limbs for our family tree

Named Ackroyd, and Nelson and Dudley.

Once you turn the corner of life

By taking a husband and/or a wife.

You can count on there being some more and 

We've got 'em - Dustyn, Ashley, Jessey, Lauren, Jordan, Dillon and of course, Shelbi.

Weddings, anniversaries, births, why we could write a book.

And today we remember and take a quick look

Of our yesterdays, we've been lucky in every way.

Hardly any funerals - until today.

Clarence Hyde, our grandpa has done to the other side - 

Through the veil to establish a home for us, The Family Called Hyde.

He lives on in each one of our lives.

His smile, his hands, or the look in a child's eyes.

He lives on, even though he has died.

A clear stamp left by the man who established The Family Called Hyde.

Goodbye dear brother, husband, father, grandfather and Grandpa Great.

May we so conduct our lives before it's too late

So that when we get to the bright other side

We can still be part of The Family Called Hyde.