In 1946, they moved to Phoenix and Allen opened a used car business. Their son, Bruce, was 2 at that time and then along came Barbara in 1947. Mom was a homemaker and later a beautician. Allen passed away in 1952 and she married Dace Essley Jr., a cotton farmer in Glendale in 1959. In 1973, they moved to Pagosa Springs and in 2000, they returned to Phoenix to be near their daughter, Barbara, as they were at the point of needing her assistance.
Dace passed away in 2002 and Mom became a widow once again. Due to her physical limitations, she moved into a beautiful care home in 2008 and lived there until her passing on Nov. 10. Mom was in her 53rd year of being a breast cancer survivor. In 1963, she had a double mastectomy and at the age of 95, she was still cancer-free at the time of her passing.
Mom is survived by two of her three children, Bruce Clack (Barbara Carleen) and Barbara Gaston (Tom, deceased), three grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Bruce and Barbara wish to thank Sidonia Groza for the loving care of their mom. We also want to acknowledge the excellent care by the staff of Geriatric Solutions, Desert Oasis Hospice and Hospice of The Valley.
Our hearts are sad, but we are at peace in knowing that Mom is in heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We all share the desire, really a deep down yearning, to be in that glorious home forever. It is a place of indescribably bliss and the supreme blessing will be the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
There was a visitation at Best Funeral Home in Peoria, Ariz., on Friday, Nov 18. Internment was at Phoenix Memorial Park, with Katherine’s son, Bruce, sharing a few words in honor of his mom.
