Clara Carter, 90, was born on August 15, 1921 to Carl & Katherenia (Geringer) Arnpriester at their home northeast of Ordway. She died November 21, 2011 at her home north of Ordway.
Clara lived her entire life in Crowley County except two to three years her parents lived and farmed in California when she was pre-school age; and another two to three years they lived and farmed in Otero County when she was in junior high. At the age of 18, she graduated from Ordway High School with the class of 1939.
On March 1, 1940, Clara married Kenneth Carter in Raton, NM. After a brief honeymoon in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, they moved into the home where she would live the remainder of her life.
They had five children over the next 22 years. Clara said that when one of the kids would go to school, she would get lonely and have another one. George Gribble came to live and work with them in 1951 at the age of 16 and became another addition to their family.
Seventeen grandchildren followed, then more marriages and great-grandchildren, much to Clara's delight. Many of the kids and grandkids friends would call Clara "Mom" and "Grandma," which made her very happy.
Clara and Kenneth were married for 58 years which included farming, ranching, milking cows, raising pigs, feeding chickens, gardening, canning, and caring for their family along with playing baseball, hunting, fishing, camping, traveling for business and pleasure, and watching televised Rockies baseball. They attended the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Ordway early on in their lives and then the Community Baptist later.
Clara loved the Lord most of all, and felt it was her privilege and responsibility to pray for everyone and everything. She was always thankful for the many blessings in her life and like to talk about them. Love and devotion for others were demonstrated by Clara in many ways, but she especially liked cooking for people, getting together with friends to play game or cards, going to sporting events, and doing things to brighten up someone's day or lighten their burden. When asked at the age of 80 what she had always wanted to be when growing up, Clara wrote, "Housewife, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, G'ma, Christian, One who lived the life of me."
Clara is survived by all of her children (spouses): Elaine (Gale) Severson of Strawberry Point, IA; Alvin (Karol) Carter of Ordway, Bryan (Susan) Carter of Mansfiedl. TX; Kay (Ricky) Markus of Ordway, and Brenda (Darrell) Baldry of Black Forest, CO. Surviving grandchildren (spouses) are: Vance Severson, Stephanie (Brett) Rusher, Stacie (Jon) Janssen, Manon (Chad) Bushman, Cindy (Mark) Paolucci, Matthew (Melinda) Carter, Angela (Duane) Clementi, Rad Carter, Tory (Mike) Fee, Robyn (Devin) Grigg, Charity (Heath) Spady, Serenity (Keith) Lewis, Jade (Stacey) Markus, Garrett Markus, Boyd Baldry, 29 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Elona Kropf of Ordway, sister-in-law Hazel Arnpriester of Kansas City, MO; brother-in-law Charles Boucher of San Rafael, CA; numerous nieces and nephews, and many wonderful friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Katherenia Arnpriester, parents-in-law Bryan and Augusta Carter, her husband Kenneth, granddaughter Hope Baldry, great-grandson Dyson Rusher, brothers (spouses) Carl (Ann), Henry (Louise), Jake (Esther), Sam ( Willmina), and Noah Arnpriester; sisters (spouses) Rebecca Rusher (Ken) and Katherine Boucher; and brother-in-law Fred Kropf.
A memorial service was held Monday, Nov 28 at Community Baptist Church in Crowley with Pastor Ken West and Clara's nephew Rev Marvin Arnpriester officiating.
Those wishing to do so may make a memorial contribution to the Community Baptist Church AWANA program for children, the Crowley County Fire Department, or the Crowley County Ambulance Service.∼Carter — Clara Carter, 90, Ordway, Nov. 21. Griffy, Ordway.
Pueblo Chieftain Vital Stats-Deaths Wed Nov 23 2011