Clarissa Gyorke

Clara Sue Chiles Gyorke, the sole surviving child of the Davis pioneer family of William Earl and Olga Kettelsen Chiles, passed peacefully on Sunday, January 29, 2012 surrounded by her loving children. Clara Sue was a fourth generation Davisite; the granddaughter of William Dee and Clara Callaway Chiles and great-granddaughter of Isaac Skinner and Bridget Dee Chiles. Sue was born in the Woodland Hospital on September 23, 1925. In the later years of her life, Sue would declare, "They brought me home to a shepherd's shack on Poleline Road just north of Davis, and into a loving family." Sue was the fourth of William and Olga Chiles five children. Sue attended school in Davis, was active in the Catholic youth choir, and graduated from Davis High School in 1942. Two weeks after graduation, Sue boarded the train and moved to San Francisco to study voice. To please her father she studied classical music and opera during school hours and to please herself she sang jazz in the nightclubs of San Francisco in the evenings. On V-J Day (August 15, 1945) Sue met Andrew Gyorke, who was to become the love of her life. On September 11, 1948, they were married in the Catholic Church in Davis, and subsequently established their home in San Francisco. Between 1949 and 1963, six children were born, welcomed, loved and cared for. In 1965, Sue and Andy moved their family back to Davis to 1434 Clara Lane, on land that had once been part of the Chiles Ranch. Sue was an active parent volunteer in scouting, PTA and church youth group activities. All six children graduated Davis High School - Drew (1967), Barbara (1972), Teresa (1973), Andrew Jr. (1975), David (1977) and Libby (1981). With the children grown and on their own, Sue was active in the Religious Education Program at St. James, the RCIA, and sang in a number of the choirs at St. James Catholic Church. She assisted Andy in his work as commodities broker, and supported his involvement in the Knights of Columbus. Sue was preceded in death by sister Lucille (1935), brother Eugene (1939), father William (1965), mother Olga (1963), brother Austin (1998), husband Andrew (2004), and sister Patricia (2008). She is survived by her children Drew, Barbara Batt (Bill), Teresa, Andrew Jr (Sarah) David (Alison Good), and Elizabeth (Will Seymore Jr.). Her eight grandchildren include Michelle and Ryan Gyorke; Christopher, Edward and Angela Rose Batt; Clare and Drew Gyorke; Myles Gyorke-Seymore, and four great-grandchildren. A memorial mass and the celebration of Clara Sue Chiles Gyorke's life will begin at 11am on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at the Catholic Newman Center, 5th and C streets. With a reception to follow at the Redwood Park Community Center, 1001 Anderson Rd, Davis, CA. Memorial gifts may be made to the Yolo County Historical Society or the American Cancer Society.

---

Previous Events

Memorial
Friday, February 3, 2012

---