Myrle J. Claybourn

Myrle June Claybourn was born on April 6, 1910, to Floyd Stearns and Grace Fairly Stearns. Myrle graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1926. After her graduation in 1929 from Winona State Teacher's College, she taught school in rural Freeborn County and in the Freeborn schools. She was an employee of the Albert Lea Tribune newspaper for 25 years. In 1930, Myrle married Wilfred W. Claybourn. Three children were born to this union, Joanne, Sharon and Stephen. In 1968, she married Lester Johnson of Freeborn. MN. Myrle was a member of the United Methodist Church of Albert Lea, where she was baptized and married. She is a past member of the Business and Professional Women's Association and was active as a Cub Scout den mother. Her hobbies were reading, crocheting, knitting and embroidery. Survivors include her daughter, Joanne Crouch of Rancho Mirage, CA; son Steve Sharon Claybourn of Randleman, NC; son-in-law, Joe Kortz; grandchildren, Becky Kilborn of Danvers, MA, David Kilborn of Rochester, NY, Kim Miller of Mission Viejo, CA, Robin Wentworth of Franklin Lakes, NJ, Lynn Opp-Denton of Cedar Rapids, IA, Bill Kortz, James Kortz and Julie Kortz all of Albert Lea, MN, Michael Claybourn of Rochester, NY, and Kay Kaeppel of Flower Mound, TX; and many great-grandchildren. Myrle was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Wilfred Claybourn 1961 and Lester Johnson 1997; two sisters, Thelma Thuesen and Jeanette O'Connor, daughter, Sharon Kortz, son-in-law, Jerry Crouch, granddaughter Rene Claybourn and great- grandson Sean Kilborn.