Clara Elizabeth Anderson

Clara Elizabeth Anderson, of Groesbeck, went to her Heavenly Home on Tuesday, December 28, 2010, passing away peacefully in her sleep at her home, at age 89. She will be buried at a private family ceremony on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. at Faulkenberry Cemetery,with Pastor C. Darren Killingsworth officiating. She will be honored by those attending with her favorite songs, "God Bless America"-"America the Beautiful" and another song dear to her, "I Come to the Garden Alone." Clara was born July 3, 1921 to Isom McGuirk and Jessie Cooley McGuirk at South Greenfield, Missouri. She grew up in Missouri and at a young age, she was united in marriage with Coy Baker; and four children,Jessie, Allen, Barbara, and Alvin, were born to this union. When Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, the family moved to Astoria, Oregon, where Clara worked for the war effort as a welder in the building of ships. She was an active member of the American Legion Drill Team while living in California after the war, and she remained a great patriot. After the death of her first husband, Clara married Elmer Howell, to which union one son, Elmer,Jr. was born. After becoming a widow a second time, she later married William Anderson. In 1971, she retired as a personal care attendant at New Lisbon State School in New Jersey. At the same time her husband retired from the Navy, and they bought a travel trailer and traveled extensively through the United States and in Old Mexico (where they lived on the beach for six months.) Then he went back to work as a ship's captain, and Clara was able to make trips to meet him including an exciting trip to Italy. She had led an exciting life. After his death in 1987, she suffered health problems, and moved to Groesbeck, Texas to live with her daughter, Barbara Abbott’s family. She has been a member of the United Pentecostal Church of Groesbeck since moving here. During her years of disability from strokes, Clara was faithfully attended by her daughter, Barbara, her late son-in-law Gerald, and granddaughter, Frances Mouton. Clara was the last survivor of a family of eight children. She had a great sense of humor and enjoyed laughing. She was Mimi to all the great and great-great grandchildren, and she loved having them visit her, and was able to delight in the newest baby, Blaze. She was a loving woman, and will be greatly missed. Mrs. Anderson was preceded in death by her parents; all seven of her brothers and sisters; her husbands, Coy Baker, Elmer Howell, and William Anderson; a grandson, Tommy Broadstreet; a daughter, Jessie Allene Peirce; and her son-in-law, Gerald Dean Abbott. She is survived by son, Allen August Baker of Ridgecrest, CA; daughter, Barbara Ann Abbott of Groesbeck; son, Alvin Ray Baker of Reno, NV; and son, Elmer W. Howell, Jr. of Mexia; eleven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren.