GRACE CLAWITER, Obituary

BIG SANDY Grace Clixby Clawiter, 84, died Thursday, July 4, 2002, at a Big Sandy nursing home of natural causes.

Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Big Sandy United Methodist Church with Pastor Marvin Eldridge officiating. Burial is to follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery.

Grace was born Aug. 15, 1917, to John and Jenny Whetham. She graduated from Box Elder High School.

She went to work as a cook at the McNamara Ranch at Eagle Creek, where she met and married Victor H. Clixby in 1936. They had four children. After 42 year of marriage, Vic passed away in 1978.

Sept. 29, 1980, in Big Sandy Grace married Max Clawiter, whom she had first met at the Coal Creek Country School in the first grade. She retired from the post office in 1980 after 25 years of service. She and Max traveled extensivley to 11 different countries including Egypt, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. They also went on several cruises.

Grace loved gardening, raising flowers and found great joy in family gatherings and picnics. She could be found herding kids and grand kids into groups for pictures to add to her many photo albums. She was a great source of strength and comfort to us and brought much joy and happiness to so many. After four years of ill health she has finally found peace and will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Vic; daughter, Wanda; brothers, Maurice, Johnny and Ikie Whetham; and sisters Alberta Garnett.

Survivors include her loving and devoted husband, Max Clawiter of Big Sandy; sons, Normand (Kathy) Clixby of Shelton, Wash., and Roger (Bonnie) Clixby of Missoula; daughter, Mildred (Tom) Keppner of Lakeside; sisters, Jeanette Cline of Big Sandy, Florence Cross of Havre, Mary Ward of Minn.; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Memorials in Grace's honor may be made to the Big Sandy Historical Museum, the Big Sandy Medical Center or to a memorial of one's choice.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home in Havre.