Clara B. Pierce, 89

Clara B. Pierce, 89, passed away on Sept.1, 2010.

Memorial services and burial will be at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry at 11 a.m. Sept. 18

. Clara Blanche (Wombacher) Pierce was born Nov. 19, 1920, on a homestead in Haxby, Mont., to Ray and Blanche Wombacher. In 1923, the family moved to the Bonners Ferry, Idaho, area.

Clara started school in Moravia, then on to Southside Grade School and Bonners Ferry High School where she graduated Valedictorian in 1938. She also excelled in athletics, including a second place finish at the Idaho State Tennis Championship.

After graduation, Clara entered the banking industry, working in Idaho, Washington, California and Alaska.

In 1954, she married James H. Pierce in Anchorage, Alaska, where she later gave birth to two sons. The family moved to Washington state in 1960. Clara became a widow in 1977. She continued in banking until her retirement at age 62. 

At age 70, Clara hit the road in her new motorhome and traveled the United States for seven years, visiting all 50 states, then returned to buy a home in Washington. In 2009 Clara moved to her own home on her son’s property in Morton, Wash.

She is survived by her son Dan and daughter-in-law Jean; her son Tom and daughter in law Gerrie and Grandchildren Dave, Katie and JR.

She was preceded in death by her husband James; her parents Ray and Blanche Wombacher; brothers Joe (former mayor of Bonners Ferry) and Ralph; sisters Alice Peters, Helen Scott and Elaine Funkhouser.