(Grandpa Brooks, Grandma Brooks, Grandma Graham, and Grandpa Graham)
Clara Mable Graham
March 1918-October 2011
Clara passed peacefully in her sleep on October 20, 2011. She was born on March 28, 1918 in Oklahoma Territory. Primarily Clara was a homemaker for husband Tom and their three children, Don, Lavette, and Delpha. Outside of the home, Clara was an avid "rock hound" who enjoyed being outdoors and crafting her own jewelry. She loved gardening and growing her own fruits and vegetables. Additionally, Clara was a wonder at knitting and crocheting. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren benefiting from her talents as each received a beautiful blanket at their birth. Clara is survived by her three children, eleven grandchildren, and thirty- four great grandchildren!
Services were held for Clara at 3pm on Tuesday, October 25th at Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapel in Redding California. They asked that if you wanted to bring flowers to please make sure that they were live plants/flowers that the family could take home and plant in Clara's honor. Clara (Grandma so enjoyed gardening, and loathed the thought of cut flowers.)
On October 26th Grandma was laid to rest in Houston California next to her Love/Sweetheart Thomas Andrew Graham.
My Grandma was 93 years old when she passed away. She lived a long full life. She was very active up until a couple of years ago. She was a very strong, hard working women and I think it made Grandma crazy not being able to do everything on her own. When my Grandpa passed away at the age of 52 It was hard on my Grandma. Grandma would always ask why she had to wait so long to be with Grandpa. This last year Grandpa would visit Grandma occasionally but would never talk. Grandma was so worried that he needed something but didn't know what it was he wanted. Grandma has waited a long time to be with him. I can only imagine the joyous reunion between them
A few things I remember about Grandma.
1. She was so pretty when she smiled.
2. I only remember grey hair. Her hair turned grey when she was 18 years old. I saw a picture displayed at the funeral of Grandmas family (9 kids-7 girls/2 boys :) ) and Grandmas hair was dark brown. She looked so pretty.
3. She loved rock collecting- Wow! my boys would have loved that.-- There was a story shared at the funeral of a time when my Grandma was little and her family was moving homes. The kids were each allowed one bag each. My Grandma found a rock on the ground on their way that resembled a piece of bacon and she wanted it so bad. Grandma placed it in her bag to take with her but it was immediately removed when her father found it. Grandma was so upset. She really wanted that rock. When they arrived where they were going Great Grandmother pulled the bacon rock out of her bag and gave it to Grandma. My grandma was so happy and thankful. (This may have been the start to the rock collecting.
4. I loved everything about her home.-- I felt safe there. I remember the beauty of all the plants, trees, and flowers. She truly had a green thumb. I remember that the property seemed huge and I loved all of the adventures in checking the whole place out. Grandma had a huge garden and a lot of fruit trees. Grandma would let us pick and eat anything as long as we finished it. There was always containers filled with either nuts or raisins. I loved when she would make homemade fruit leather. I loved the days she did the irrigation and we got to wade through the yard knee deep in water. It was especially fun when the cousins got together. - Inside seemed like there was cool stuff everywhere to look at. Not chaotic or messy. Actually really clean. I always loved looking at all of her things and it's almost like she encouraged it. I can remember almost everything about the inside. I loved her home and how she made me feel there.
5. Grandma would make us rock necklaces, stocking caps, slippers, blankets etc... We felt special knowing she had put so much thought and time into each piece. (When I went into my Grandmas room this last week, there were a few pieces that I was able to take for my children to remember her by)
I will miss Grandma but I know she is happy to be with my Grandpa and I know I will see her again.
My Mom with some of her cousins. I think she really enjoyed seeing them again.
My cousin Julie with one of her twins Megan and her youngest Madeline.
My Uncle Don (in green) and Keith
Kimmi's son Thomas and Julies other twin Morgan. (They are Madison's age. I wish my family could have come. I think they would have had fun with my cousins kids)
My cousin Julie. (She is Heathers age)
My cousin Kimmi and I.-- We played together a lot when I was little. I have another cousin named Rabecca, Christophers sister. We are all just months apart and we really use to have a lot of fun together. Rebecca couldn't make it. It was fun to see Kimmi though.
