Clydie Mae McReynolds

Clydie McReynolds passed peacefully on to heaven on September 1, 2022 at the age of 95. She was born in Austonio, Texas in 1927, and remained a Texan in her heart for her entire life. This included the accent, love of the Dallas Cowboys, and the ability to sing the Texas state anthem and “The Eyes of Texas” from start to finish with little prompting.

Clydie was the last in her family from the “Greatest Generation”, going from living on a farm in Texas with no electricity or indoor plumbing to being able to pay her bills online in her later years. She loved reading (sharing “hysterical” romance novels with her daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter), gardening, and her soap operas.

She was one of the first in her family to get a college education, studying by kerosene lantern at times. She worked for the Public Service Company of New Mexico after getting a degree in Home Economics from Texas Tech University, teaching people how to use those new-fangled electric appliances. It was in Clovis, New Mexico that she met James McReynolds, married and became not just a homemaker but the GLUE that kept her family together. Her skills at organization, parenting, and making the most of every dollar earned made a wonderful home.

She had three children. First Kevin, who followed in his father’s path and worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, then BNSF Railroad. He preceded her in death in October 2017 at age 62. Her third child, Jeffrey, was a computer genius, working for and making an impact at Oracle. He also preceded her in death in January 2017 at age 56. Her “middle” child, Jamie, survives her, continuing to work as a Family Physician.

She is also survived by grandchildren Brett, Casey (Patrick Campbell), and Marcus (Allison) Kwasek, plus Alexander (Sasha), Anastasia (Ana) and Maria (Masha) McReynolds. She is survived by her daughter in law, Cathleen McReynolds (Kevin’s wife). She was preceded in death also by her husband, James, in 1994, as well as Jamie’s husband, Don Kwasek, in Sept 2017, and Jeff’s widow, Rowena, who succumbed to COVID in 2021. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews scattered from coast to coast.

In lieu of flowers, if desired, please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project, or your favorite animal rescue in her honor. There will be no immediate memorial service, but one in the future at graveside when she can be interred with her husband in the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ShadowMountainMortuary.com for the McReynolds family.