| Clara Malissia Hart, 96, daughter of John and Cora
Pharriss Hancock, was born August 14, 1904, at
Crocker, Missouri. She died December 20, 2000, at
Carthage missouri.
As a farmer's daughter, she learned to cook, knit
and sew at an early age.
She was well known for her hand-knit house shoes
that she gave to hundreds of friends and family. She
continued to knit until a few weeks before her
death.
She married Jesse Clarence "J.C." Hart. They
farmed and she was a homemaker. While their oldest
son was serving in World War II, they operated a
cafe in Houston Missouri, where they provided good
food and a touch of home comfort for hundreds of
servicemen from Fort Leonard Wood.
For 23 years the Harts owned and operated the Hart
Rent Home, where she was well known for her loving
care and tiresless devotion to her family and friends.
She was a member of the Bucyrus Baptist Church
for many years.
In 1979, she moved to Carthage to be near her
daughter. While in Carthage, she was a member of
the Helping Hands Quilting Club and attended the
First Baptist Church of Carthage.
She was preceded in death by her husband May 16,
1970; her parents; two sisters, Ethel and Lottie; six
brothers, Everitt, Emmett, Cliff, Ted, Carroll and
Pleasy; two sons, James Allen and Albert; and a
grandson.
Surviving are her daughters, Lauretta Smith of boise,
Idaho, and Shirley Scowden of Carthage; one son,
Raymond Hart of Morton, Ill; a brother, Paul
Hancock of Roubidoux; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-
grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
Services were December 23 at the First Baptist
Church in Houston with the Rev. Keith Miles and
Benny Gard officiating. Burial was in the Pine Lawn
Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral
Home.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church
in Houston or the First Baptist Church of Carthage. |