Clara Ann Williams was born Clara Ann Larsen on August 06, 1946, in Rupert Idaho to Arthur Ray and Lula Larsen. She passed away on February 14, 2026.
She is survived by her husband Merle Williams, sister Mary Ellen Farney and husband Nelson, sister-in-law Dolores Larsen, son Kelly Williams and wife Sonja, daughter Dawn Prentice and husband Daniel, grandchildren, Roux Williams, Alicia Williams, Melaina Prentice, and Celia Prentice, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Clara was preceded in death by her parents, brother Paul Larsen, and son Steven Williams.
Clara graduated in Lee's Summit High School in 1964. She married Merle Williams in 1965 even though her first instinct was to throw a biscuit at his head. They lived on Guam for 2 years where Merle taught school and she worked in a dental office on Anderson Air Force Base. In 1969 they moved to Lee's Summit, MO where they had their first child. They moved to Myrtle, MO in 1973 where they lived on a small farm and had two more children. Clara wrote a weekly article for the South Missourian News titled the Downhill Pull that featured her humor and wit about everyday life. Clara was an active member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Thayer, MO where she served as secretary and choir director for many years. They moved to Thayer in 1987. Clara earned her bachelor's degree (although she has been quoted as saying, "Everything I needed to know in life I learned in Lamaze") and worked at OMC Behavioral Health Center in West Plains, MO. She retired in 2005 to travel to Kenya with her family. She and Merle enjoyed their retirement visiting friends in Florida and traveling with family. Clara played the flute and piccolo throughout her life and was a member of both the Mountain Home Symphony and Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra.
Clara was a passionate nature advocate and spent her time supporting organizations to preserve area habitats and the rehab of the Greer Mill. She loved clear, swift moving streams, art, classical music, sewing, quilting and friends. Clara loved to spend time gardening and was particularly interested in cultivating native plants and encouraging others toward native planting.
She loved having the house filled with family and cats. She was most at peace floating down the Eleven Point River. Know that if she shared river time with you, you were special to her…or could haul a kayak. She was well known for her adventurous nature, her quick wit, generous spirit and her infamous Grandma Camp filled with crafts, swimming, and lime-aid.
She always started her trips saying "we have all the days!" and at the end of the trip she would say "poof!". And now here we are at Poof.

Please join us to honor the memory of Clara Williams and her beautiful life.  We will have a short memorial service followed by pot luck finger food reception.  In leu of flowers please bring a collage item or picture to share with the family that represents Clara's impact on your life.  Donations in honor of her will also be accepted at Christos House (https://christoshousemo.org/) and Ozark National Scenic Riverways (https://www.ozarkriverwaysfoundation.org/get-involved)
February 18, 2026 (1PM) St Paul United Methodist Church Thayer MO

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home osfuneralhomes.com