Kyra Clift

1923 - 2011

Kyra Kuprianovitch Clift died Monday, July 18, 2011, at Texoma Medical Center. She was the widow of long time Denison Herald State Editor John Clift.

Mrs. Clift was born Jan. 14, 1923, in Harbin, Manchuria to Eustace and Vera Kuprianovitch. When she was a teenager, she and her family moved to Shanghai, where she first attended a French school then a British Prep school. When she entered the school in the fall, she did not speak English, but by the end of the year, was scoring at the top of her class. Upon completing prep school, she sat for the entrance exam for Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, and was accepted. Due to the threat of war she was unable to attend.

She was employed by Time-Life Magazine in Shanghai and worked in a space shared by the U.S. Army newspaper, Stars and Stripes. That's where she met her future husband, John Clift, who was serving as an editor for the newspaper. They married on Feb. 10, 1946. The Clifts moved to Denison after his military discharge. He died in 1996.

Mrs. Clift became a naturalized citizen and took her citizenship very seriously. She never missed voting in a major election and kept up to date on all the political doings in both Austin and Washington.

She believed being useful in the community was very important and served in many volunteer capacities over the years. She was past president of Monodrama Club, a charter member of the Denison Service League, holding many offices and serving as a long time board member. She also was a member of Alpha Delphi and held various offices in that organization. She attended the First Presbyterian Church in Denison for almost 65 years. She was the longest continuous Circle Leader and helped in many other areas of the church, as well. Mrs. Clift was originally a member of the Russian Orthodox Church.

She was an avid weather watcher and received numerous citations from the late Harold Taft at Channel 5 in Dallas for her reporting, much to the amusement of her family. It can also be said that she was extremely uncomfortable in the company of thunderstorms and tornadoes.

She took good care of her neighbors and friends, always sharing a meal, soup or just box of cookies or a dinner. She never learned to drive, so the recipients of her excellent cooking had to come for a pick up, because there was no delivery. On occasion her beloved friend, Ellen Saunders, would be the "wheels" to Mrs. Clift's "meals." Until a few weeks before her death she still entertained with weekly luncheons.

She is survived by two daughters, Kyra Clift Bowman of Houston and Stephanie Clift of Shanghai, China. She also is survived by her two adored grandchildren, Kyra Randolph Bowman of Brooklyn, N.Y., and John Addison Bowman of Brattleboro, VT.

The family wishes to thank the nursing staff of the 4th floor and ICU at TMC for their tender care, and most especially her primary angel, Dr. Linda Castillo, as well as dear friends who have been with her every minute.

Her memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 25 at the First Presbyterian Church in Denison. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Grayson County Shelter, 331 W. Morton, Denison, KinderKraft Preschool, 213 N. Burnett, Denison, or Grayson County College Foundation, GNSA (for nursing scholarships), 6101 Grayson Drive, Denison.

Arrangements have been made through Waldo Funeral Home of Sherman. The online guest book may be signed at waldofuneralhome.com.