Clara Viola Neer, 96, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, March 1, 2020, at Chaffee Nursing Home in Chaffee, Missouri.
She was born May 31, 1923, in Brockton, Montana, daughter of Edwin and Karen Rian Larson. She and Alva Bryant were married June 23, 1946, and after his passing, she married Clarence Neer, who also preceded her in death.
Clara was a 1941 graduate of Brockton High School. Following graduation, she taught one year in a one-room school in Brockton. She then attended business college in Great Falls, Montana, where she met Alva, who was stationed there in the U.S. Army Air Corps. They moved to Tacoma, Washington, and later moved back to Montana to be closer to her family. She and Alva also resided in St. Louis and moved to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, in 1976. Clara had worked as a secretary and bookkeeper. After she and Clarence were married, they moved to Williston, North Dakota, where she resided for 30 years.
Loving survivors include a son, Arthur (Laura) Bryant of Shirley, Arkansas; daughters, Karen Caldwell of O'Fallon, Illinois, and Ann (Mark) Presnell of Jackson; stepsons, Allen (Diana) Neer of Caldwell, Idaho, and Greg (Helen) Neer of Pella, Iowa; brother, Luther Larson of Sparta, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Doretta (Sonny) Taylor of Bismarck, North Dakota; five grandsons; 10 stepgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and 27 great-stepgrandchildren.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Everett and Orville Larson; sisters, Inga Wallette and Mabel Gobbs; and son-in-law, William Caldwell.
Memorial visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.
Memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Ken Harper and Jason Hill officiating.
Memorials may take the form of contributions to Gideon's International or the donor's choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.
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