Funeral Services for Clara Harley

Funeral services for Clara Harley, age 98, of Chambers will be 10:30 A.M. Friday July 31, 2015 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chambers. Burial will be in the Chambers cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. at Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill with a 7 P.M. prayer service. Rev. John Ryding will officiate. She passed away Thursday afternoon July 23, 2015, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell, Nebraska. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, LCMS International Mission, or The Lutheran Hour.

Clara was born June 4, 1917 at Norfolk, Nebraska to William and Hermine (Koepke) Roth. She was baptized as an infant and later confirmed into the Lutheran faith on March 29, 1931, at Alma, KS. Clara graduated from high school in Alma, KS. She attended normal training and began her teaching career in Kansas. She later went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and received her Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Nebraska. She taught at Chambers Public School nine years from 1949 to 1958. Her career then took her to O’Neill Public Schools for 21 years, where she taught fourth grade and subsequently served as the media specialist and librarian at both elementary and secondary levels until she retired in 1980.

Clara was united in marriage to L. Vernon Harley on June 2, 1940, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chambers, NE. They resided in Chambers all their married life. They were blessed with 2 children, Darlene and Norman. Clara was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where she served as organist, Sunday school teacher and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Member. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #320. She courageously cared for her 2 young children alone while Vernon was serving his country during World War II.

Clara will be remembered by all who knew her for her positive and joyful outlook on life. She was a living example to everyone of her strong Christian faith and love of Christ. She especially instilled in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the importance of keeping Jesus at the center of their life.

Clara is survived by one daughter, Darlene Reiner and husband Ken of Chambers, one son, Norman Harley and wife Carole of Lincoln, 6 grandchildren; Luke (Devonna) Reiner, Sharon (Jon) Oetting, David (Tracy) Reiner, Scott Harley, Brian Harley, James (Susie) Harley, 12 great grandchildren; Holly (Lucas) Flanscha, Heather Reiner, Rachael Oetting, Joel (Jessica) Oetting, Anna Oetting, Tressa Reiner, Conner, Averie, Olivia, Addison, Reagan and Liam Harley. Also surviving are her two brothers, Delbert Roth and wife Viola of Hickory, North Carolina and Kenneth Roth of Longmont, Colorado. She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon, her parents, 3 sisters; Eleanore Roth, Virgiania Hoerle, and LaVaughn Fenster, 3 brothers; Milton, Gene, and William Roth.

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