Syble Bonita (Montgomery) Claymore was born on December 9, 1919 in Long, OK, the 6th and youngest child of John and Emma (Benge) Montgomery.

She grew up on her mother's Cherokee allotment and in Cushing, OK with her parents, her brothers, Houston, Cruce, & Jack, and her sisters, Hazel and Okemah.

She attended Cushing Elementary until the 6th grade, at which time her father was burned badly in an oilfield accident, and the children were enrolled at Chilocco Indian Boarding School. Her former neighbors would occasionally take Sis, as her family called her, out of school for the weekend. She eventually stayed with the Ethringtons and attended Cushing (OK) High School. Her father died when she was a freshman. Syble graduated in 1937 and went on to Bacone Indian Junior College.

At Bacone Syble met her future husband Leonard Claymore. She was a freshman and he was a sophomore. Leonard transferred to Arizona State in the fall of 1938 but returned to Bacone in December.

She had planned to go on to the teachers' college at Tahlequah but "ended up getting married instead". Leonard planned to return to Cheyenne River, get a job, and send for Syble. Mrs. Ethrington had other ideas and made certain they were married before Leonard left for South Dakota. They were wed on September 16, 1939. Leonard left for home and Syble followed in December.

Syble and Leonard lived and worked in several places on Cheyenne River during their early life together, and in Portland, OR during the war where Leonard worked in the shipyards. They had four daughters: Linda; Monta; Almeda; and Darlene.

In 1947 when Darlene was an infant, Syble contracted spinal meningitis and was seriously ill for several months. Their first son, Leonard Joseph, was born and died in January 1947. After this they lived in Cherry Creek where Leonard taught school and Syble was the school cook. The family returned to the Old Agency where Syble worked at Barker's Store.

By this time sons, Clay and Grady, had joined the family. In 1950 Syble began working as a dormitory matron for the Cheyenne River Boarding School which would be her career for the next 25 years. During those years the agency moved to Eagle Butte and Syble's family grew by four more children: Connie Rae; J.D.; Shayne; and Bonita.

During her life in Eagle Butte Syble opened her home to anyone who needed a place to stay. She became a grandmother for the first time in 1961, and was blessed with many more grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

She suffered her greatest hardship in 1970 when her son, J.D., died in a car accident at the age of 12.

She and Leonard were ardent Braves fans and rodeo fans, as their children and grandchildren were active in sports of all kinds. She was as proud to be an American as she was of her Cherokee heritage and her honorary enrollment into the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She was also very proud of her brother, Jack, who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor in WWII.

She and Leonard retired to "the country" in Marksville in 1975. They stayed busy traveling to ball games, shopping in Pierre, and enjoying their grandchildren until Leonard passed away on March 6, 1991. Syble stayed on at the ranch until December 30, 2009 at which time she moved to the Oahe Manor in Gettysburg, SD where she remained until her death on April 21, 2011.

She is survived by her children: Linda Shearer; Monta Little Soldier; Almeda Lawrence; Darlene Hegg; Clay Claymore; Grady Claymore; Connie Nelson; Shayne Claymore; and Bonita "Bones" Claymore; 37 grandchildren, 74 great grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren.

Syble was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Leonard; all of her brothers and sisters; and her brothers and sisters-in-law; two sons, Leonard Joseph and J.D.; a daughter-in-law, Donna Claymore; three sons-in-law, Donnie Newbrough, Ray Shearer, and Robby Lawrence; and three grandchildren, Shawn LeRoy Annis, Donna Rae Dupris, and Marty Scott Stadel.