The funeral of Carole Lombard: "This is to be a private funeral for Mrs Elizabeth Peters and her daughter Carole", he said. The services were held at the Church of the Recessional in Forest Lawn on January 22nd 1942. They were conducted by the Reverend Gordon C. Chapman of Westwood Hills Methodist Church. Only members of the immediate family and a few close friends were in attendance. The service was as Carole directed: no ritual prayers, no songs or hymns, no music other than the organ. The Reverend Chapman read from the Fourteenth Chapter of John and the Twenty-Third Psalm. A four-line poem loved by Carole and Bessie was recited, followed by a simple affirmation of faith.

After the ceremony we all went back to the ranch with Clark, Howard Strickling, Eddie Mannix, Nat Wolff and his wife and a few other intimate friends spent the evening there. Harry Fleischmann planned to stay with Clark several days During the evening, I went into my office to attend to several details and Clark followed me, closing the door behind him. I still had a last note from Carole, which she'd asked me to give him if she did not arrive on schedule. I felt he should have it now. Up until this time, Clark had borne himself with fortitude and courage, had been stronger than any of us throughout the entire ordeal. When he read her note, he broke down completely. It is a dreadful thing to see and hear a strong man cry. My own heart was so full I felt it would be cruel to witness his agony. To spare him embarrassment, I turned to leave but he caught my hand and held it. All I could do was stand by his side, lending what strength and comfort I could muster until he was calm again. That night, in my office at the ranch, we said our goodbyes to Carole.