Clear, 39° F
(July 10, 2009)
Clara Allen Mercer, age 92, formerly of Basin, died Friday, July 10 at the Powell Valley Care Center.
Clara was born in Hyattville on Jan. 27, 1917. She was the daughter of Bert Henry and Claudia Lewis Allen. Her mother died the day after Clara was born, and she was adopted and raised by her uncle and aunt, David A. Allen and Concorgia Hankins Allen. Clara grew up on a ranch as her dad’s cowgirl and her mother’s helper. She attended the Luman and Hyattville schools and went to high school in Ten Sleep.
She married Charles Leslie Mercer on Oct. 22, 1937 in Hyattville — the same day as her parents’ 36th wedding anniversary.They had one son, Allen Stephen Mercer.
The family moved to Basin in April 1949. Clara worked in the Gambles store and later helped her husband and son run the Basin Theatres.
Clara was an active member of the United Methodist Church, and she was a member of the Pythian Sisters. She served as the grand chief of the Grand Temple of Wyoming Pythian Sisters and was the temple’s supreme representative to Phoenix.
After retiring she enjoyed traveling with her husband, sewing for her grandchildren and serving her church as the lay member of annual conference.
Clara was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, in 2006; her parents; one brother, Henry Allen; three sisters, Ethel Alexander, Margaret Defresne, and Grace Schroeber; her sister-in-law, Pauline Sievers; and her brother-in-law, Chester Mercer.
She is survived by her son, Allen Mercer (Ena) of Powell; three granddaughters, Connie Stebner (Curt) of Powell, Tammy Siddle (Nick) of Sheridan and Wendy Carver (Chuck) of Thermopolis; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 16, from 9-10 a.m. at the Atwood Family Chapel in Basin and from 10:30 – 11a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Basin.
Funeral services will follow at 11a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Basin with Pastor Jack Preston officiating, followed by burial at the Mount View Cemetery in Basin.
A memorial fund has been established at Security State Bank, P.O. Box 531, Basin, WY 82410 with proceeds benefiting the United Methodist Church in Basin.
Atwood Family Funeral Directors, Inc. is handling arrangements.
