Clara (Morris) Smith Baggley

Clara Joan (Morris) Smith Baggley of Gladstone, Missouri, has joined her Lord and Savior on May 21, 2011 at the age of 86 years, 5 months, and 29 days. She was born on November 22, 1924 in Griswold, Iowa to Fred E. and Mary Etta (Hodges) Morris. Clara attended school in Shenandoah and Cason, Iowa.

She married the love of her life, Eugene MacDaniel Smith, on April 5, 1944. Of this union, son Jimmy Eugene Smith was born. Eugene was killed in action in Okinawa, Japan, May 14, 1945.

Clara married James Baggley on December 7, 1949. Of this union, a son Jack Eddy Baggley was born in 1951. The family relocated to Akron, Colorado in 1951, then they moved to the Kansas City North area in 1953. In 1957, Clara was employed by the North Kansas City School District in the Food Service Department. She worked for the Myron Green Cafeteria from 1965 to 1970. She then worked for the Spellman Hospital, Saint Luke's Hospital, then retired from Liberty Hospital in 1976 as a Dietician.

Clara enjoyed playing cards, games and cooking for her family, making extensive amounts of candies. Clara was a rock hound and jewelry artisan.

Clara enjoyed visiting her cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks in Stover, Missouri. She was an avid fisherwoman. Clara had a vast library of movies, westerns being her favorite. Clara enjoyed Big Band music and the likes of Lawrence Welk.

Clara was truly an independent and strong willed woman. She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; three brothers; eight sisters; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Clara is survived by son Jimmy Smith and wife Cynthia of Gladstone, MO; Kathryn Smith of Kansas City, MO, the mother of Clara's two grandsons, Michael A. Smith and Steven R. Smith, both of the Kansas City area, son Jack Baggley and wife Susan of Coos Bay, OR; Carolyn Baggley, mother of Clara's third grandson Brett Baggley. With Clara being the youngest of twelve children, she is also survived by a large number of nieces, nephews, and cousins, that she loved and adored.