Clara Belle Bagby, daughter of the late Ambrose Franklin Stoker and Ora Bea Morris Stoker, was born on September 12, 1936, in rural Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life on March 12, 2022, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 85 years.
Mrs. Bagby graduated from Dexter High School in 1954. She had worked for the American Pulverizer Co. in St. Louis, Missouri, she was a former secretary for MFA in Columbia, Missouri and a former business administrator for Bagby Brokerage, Inc. in Dexter, Missouri from 1986 to 2000.
Clara was a member of the First Baptist Church in Parma, Missouri, and the New Beginnings Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church in Dexter. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Walker Chapter of the University of Missouri Home Extension Club. She was also a former Cub Scout Leader and Girl Scout Leader. She enjoyed taking art classes and painting ceramics.
On December 22, 1955, in Dexter, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Jerry Bagby. While Jerry was in the service, they lived in Sherman, Texas and Panama City, Florida, returning to Southeast Missouri in 1960. Clara and Jerry enjoyed traveling to many places including Alaska, Monte Carlo, Ireland, London England, Scotland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and France. They took ten trips to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal.
She is survived by her husband, Jerry Bagby of their home in Dexter; by her son, Mike Bagby and wife Cathy of Dexter; by her daughter, Carla Driver of Dexter; by three grandchildren, Britney Sweeney and husband Adam, Ryan Bagby, and Cody Driver; and by two great-grandchildren, Gwendolyn Sweeney and Killian Sweeney.
Other than by her parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Lester Stoker, Toy Stoker, Lloyd Ambrose, Leon Stoker, and Franklin Stoker; by five sisters, Noma Glenn, Pearl Volkerding, Ruby Shipman, Helen Shipman, and Norma Gough; and by her grandson, Kyle Bagby.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, March 17, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Don Kennedy officiating.
Internment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
