Obituary of Clara Stone

Clara Frances Stone Funeral services for Clara Frances Stone of Elsberry, MO were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Dr. Michael Lockhart, pastor of the Elsberry United Methodist Church, officiated with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers were Jim Moore, Alan Moore, Ben Jeans, Charlie F. Pratt, Tommy Lilley, and Jim Ross; honorary pallbearers were Stephen Lilley and Michael Lilley. Mrs. Stone, 89, died early Monday morning, December 6, 2004 at the Elsberry Health Care Center near Elsberry. Born November 24, 1915 in Elsberry, she was the daughter of the late William Frank and Maude Della Howland Thomas. She was united in marriage on April 15, 1933 in Elsberry to Richard Franklin Lilley. He preceded her in death on December 27, 1945. She later married Ralph Thomas "Butch" Stone on August 24, 1957. She was employed for a number of years as a seamstress for Wells Lamont Glove factory in Elsberry. She later worked as a cook for the Clopton School District. She was a member of the Clopton School Mothers. She was a member of the Elsberry United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. Besides her parents, William Frank and Maude Thomas, and her first husband, Richard F. Lilley, she was preceded in death by four brothers: Arthur Barnes, Earl Thomas, Leslie Thomas, and Harry Blackston; two sisters: Ann Cohea and Bertha Elkofe; one granddaughter, Bernice Frances Lilley; two sons: Carl Franklin Lilley, who died in 1940, and Richard Thomas Lilley, who died in 1977; and her second husband, Butch Stone on December 31, 1999. Survivors include one son, Arthur Burton Lilley of Clarksville, MO; four daughters: Serena Uyvone Pratt and her husband, Charles, of Elsberry, Ruth Ann Lilley of Elsberry, Joy Lou Ella Earley and her husband, Paul, of Clarksville, and Peggy Sue Hall and her husband, Terry, of Clarksville; 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 12` great, great-grandchildren. She also leaves several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 7, 2004 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Elsberry United Methodist Church or the Elsberry Health Care Center Memorial Fund in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.