Clara Mae Walls

Clara Mae Walls, 85, of Junction City, KS, passed away on January 7, 2021. Johnson Funeral Home of Junction City is assisting the family with burial arrangements.

A graveside service will be held Friday January 15, 2021, 1pm, at Highland Cemetery, 700 Dogwood St., Wakefield, KS, with Pastor Doug Brown officiating.

Memorials are suggested to the American Legion Post #45, 201 E. 4th St., Junction City, KS 66441.

Clara Walls was born in Crawford County Missouri on November 6, 1935. She was the daughter of Earl and Lennie Walls. In 1946 her father joined the Army and the family moved to Junction City, KS. They resided in a 3 room apartment located at 240 East 10th street in Junction City. Shortly after moving to Junction City Clara's mother and father divorced, her mother took several jobs to include housekeeping and waitressing to support her and two other children, Larry and Norma.

Clara attended grade and middle school in Junction City and after finishing middle school she started working as a dishwasher at the J C cafe in Junction City. After a couple years of dishwashing she became the head cook at the JC cafe and was recognized throughout the 'Restaurant Owners" crowd not only as an excellent cook but a Hard Working conscientious Employee. She transferred to the "Spic and Span" restaurant and cooked there for many years.

Clara met a gentleman by the name Of Herman Keuthe. Herman was well known in the Fort Riley and Junction City communities as he was in the Army at Fort Riley and he was the Caretaker of "Chief' the last Cavalry Horse on the rolls at Fort Riley. Herman was better known to most of the surrounding communities as "Tex" Clara and Herman were significant others for over 30 years.

While living in that 3 room apartment on East 10th Street, Clara's mother met and married George Smith. The event of the 1951 flood in Junction City damaged the apartment house in which they lived and the family moved to a house on West 10th street in Junction City. Two new additions to the family, Posey and Kay were another reason for the family to move from East 10th street to a home of their own on West 10th street in Junction City.

One of Clara's enjoyments in life was playing bingo at the different organizations in Junction City and surrounding communities. She was extremely capable of remembering events and people's names. Clara was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Junction City and looked forward to Sunday school and the Church service that followed each week.

Clara is survived by her loving family: her two brothers, Lawrence "Larry" Earl (Patricia) Walls of Wakefield, KS, and Posey Reldon (Kim) Smith of Tucson, AZ; two sisters Norma Manz of Junction City, KS, and Nellie Kay Thomas of Wichita, KS; many nieces and nephews; and a host of loving family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

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