Clara Mae Cottrell Oehms

Clara Mae Cottrell Oehms of Biloxi passed away Sunday, October 4, 2009 at the age of 85. Her family surrounded her, and her husband of 68 years held tight to her hand. She was born January 23, 1924. Clara, a lifelong resident of Biloxi, met her husband Clinton at a Lutheran Church social on Back Bay and married him on July 6, 1941. After a few years of living where the Navy sent them, the couple settled back in East Biloxi. They resided on Maple Street for 52 years and raised seven children, starting in a small shotgun house, and later built a house together after Hurricane Camille. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home, they moved near family in North Biloxi. Clara often rose early to join her husband for a shrimping trip on the family’s boat. She was a member of Biloxi’s Central Assembly of God Church. Clara, an active member of the community, fully supported her children through the PTA and other activities. In 1980, Clara served as president of the Biloxi High School Band Boosters. Clara loved travel and enjoyed loading her children in the car for spur of the moment trips to visit family throughout the country. Clara was preceded in death by her infant daughter Peggy; parents, Lillian and Clarence Cottrell of Biloxi; 2 sisters, including Dorothy Dominques Ross of Biloxi, and 6 brothers. She is survived by her husband Clinton Henry Oehms, Sr. of Biloxi, brother Paul and sister Edna and her children, Rita McDaniel, Glenn Oehms (Dixie), Marie Strange (Rayford), Clara Carriveau (Robert), Clinton Oehms, Jr., John Oehms (Jodi), and Delphine Oehms Hamilton as well as 18 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 1 great- great grandchild. Funeral Services will be Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 11:00 am at Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home. Friends may visit from 10:00 am until service time. Interment will follow in Biloxi City Cemetery. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com