Clara Louise (Canfield) Snellgrove Allen Sisney, 86, of Buckner, Missouri, passed away Saturday, December 24, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. Memorial services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 30th at New Salem Funeral Home, Independence, MO. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Clara was born December 15, 1930 to Clarence and Nathalien Canfield. She was raised a farm girl in Bates City, Missouri. Clara graduated from Oak Grove High School in 1949 and the University of Central Missouri with honors and a degree in elementary education. She remained active in her sorority, Sigma Delta, until the late 60’s. Clara touched the lives of so many children during her 33 years as a teacher. She taught at Mecklin, a one-room schoolhouse near Lake City, MO, Piper, KS, Indiana, Oak Grove and Grandview. She retired from Grandview School District in 1985 after 20 years of service.
Clara had many interests and loved to be outside. She didn’t go anywhere without her camera and often was teased by all of us, as we patiently said “cheese” several times before she could get the picture taken. She also enjoyed taking photos of nature, collecting four leaf clovers or leaves for pressing. Clara liked to play the piano and could yodel like no other. She didn’t know a stranger and always carried a smile.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Marsha Tracy; and is survived by her sister, Florence Mainard (Nic) of Holden, MO; three children: Diane Gile of Buckner, MO, Molly Brandes (Jim) of Warsaw, MO, and Charles Snellgrove (Carol) of Nevada, MO; eight grandchildren: Rachael Burnett (Tony) of Buckner, Shirley Verbenec of Lenexa, KS, Shawna Kelly (Jason) of Blue Springs, MO, Tara Patel (Chuck) of Hays, KS, Kara Valdez (Donny) of Corpus Christi, TX, Karli Jeffries (Kevin) of Independence, MO, Eric Tracy of Butler, MO, and Dawn Dietrich of Warsaw; twenty great-grandchildren; and one great great-granddaughter.
Arrangements: Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home, Independence MO 816-796-8600