The Callans and McClarys, by John Edward Callan - Callanworld

McClary. Additional oral history
from family members was
obtained by Bert McClary on the
subjects included here.
The descendants of Martin
Gerhard (c. 1633-1688) include
Joseph Gerhardt (1857-1922),
whose descendants are documented
in a 60-page manuscript
which is continuously updated.
Just before Christmas,
1988, Beth assembled a beautiful
album of family photos and
memories, from which most of
this section is excerpted. She
gave one of the albums to each
of her children, and one to each
of her nieces and nephews.
In her dedication, she
offered the following:
“I have put together this
book…so that you can remember
your grandfather Davis and
know a little about the family he
and your grandmother came
from.
“I want you to share in the
history of this family and make it
your own. Someday when you
have children of your own, you
can get his album out and show
them the pictures. This is your
family, be proud of it and work
hard to make it proud of you.”
Just a few weeks before
Nancy’s marriage to Al Callan,
Beth wrote a letter recalling the
events leading up to the Sept. 7,
1966 birth of Nancy.
“I became pregnant with
Nancy at the only time I could,
so that I could work and Bert
could finish school. My mom
had not wanted us to get married
when we did because she was
afraid that if I got pregnant right
away, Bert would have to quit
school and he would never
amount to anything with out an
education.
I promised her I would not
get pregnant until at least December
so that I could work to
make ends meet until graduation.
She told me I couldn’t be
sure of something like that. In
those days birth control was not
something ex-nuns partook of.
Anyway I was right, I got
pregnant in December and was
never sick a day and felt really
good. I had an opportunity to
have a promotion at my job, but
I told them no because I was
expecting, and I didn’t want to
make any long term commitments
to anything but the child I
was carrying.
The worst thing about the
pregnancy was the fact that my
mom was very ill and dying of
cancer during this time. We
would drive home from Kansas
City every weekend to be with
her and it was a very trying time.
My mom so wanted to live to see
Nancy born and she lived by
sheer will for a good three
months trying to wait. As it was
she died on July 23, 1966 and
Nancy was born on Sept. 7 of
that year. It had been a trying
time for me and after Nancy was
born I weighed less than I had
when I became pregnant.
“Because we had Nancy
when we did it probably affected
the outcome of our lives as well
as hers. We had talked about
living and working in Kansas City
~ 67 ~
Nancy McClary, age 3 months
after Bert got out of school. But
with a new baby we decided that
maybe Boonville would be a
better and safer and more secure
place to raise a child. It would be
closer to family and a built- in
support system. I am so glad that
we did. Even though we spent a
few years in Columbia, because I
was close to home I was able to
take care of my father and
reestablish a love for him and the
home place.
“I don’t remember much
about Nancy’s birth other than it
took close to 24 hours for it to
be over. I was sitting in the car
on the top of a hydraulic lift
while Bert was changing the oil
in the car when my contractions
started. We went home and got
ready for bed but as the evening
went on it was pretty apparent
that I was going to have a baby
whether I was ready or not. We
went to the hospital and 18
hours after I got there Nancy was
The Callans and McClarys
born.
She was a beautiful and
wonderful baby and we were so
excited. When I took her home
it was a little freighting and it
caused me to miss my mother
even more. Nancy was such a
good baby and hardly ever cried.
She didn’t sleep as much as most
babies seemed to but she would
just lie in her bed and look
around and be content. She was
and is the best daughter any one
could ask for and I hope and
pray everyday for her happiness
and that she will find the love
and support from a man that I
have found with her father and
that someday she will know the
joy of motherhood and the
profound emotions that come
with it.”
Beth closed the letter with a
special wish for her daughter.
“I “I “I “I “I love love love love love you you you you you more more more more more than than than than than
words words words words words can can can can can ever ever ever ever ever express,” express,” express,” express,” express,” Beth Beth Beth Beth Beth
wrote. wrote. wrote. wrote. wrote.
“I “I “I “I “I love love love love love you you you you you as as as as as only only only only only aa
aa
a
mother mother mother mother mother can can can can can love love love love love her her her her her first-born first-born first-born first-born first-born
child. child. child. child. child. You You You You You have have have have have made made made made made me me me me me so so so so so
proud proud proud proud proud over over over over over the the the the the years years years years years and and and and and II
II
I
know know know know know that that that that that you you you you you will will will will will continue continue continue continue continue to to to to to
be be be be be a a a a a delightful delightful delightful delightful delightful and and and and and loving loving loving loving loving
daughter daughter daughter daughter daughter and and and and and friend. friend. friend. friend. friend.
“May “May “May “May “May you you you you you always always always always always be be be be be as as as as as
happy happy happy happy happy as as as as as you you you you you are are are are are today.” today.” today.” today.” today.”
Love, Love, Love, Love, Love,
Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom