Clara Marie (Kloker ( Haffey)) Cavanaugh passed away on August 15, 2014. Clara was 93 years young.
Clara was born on June 16, 1921 in Anaconda to Walter and Mary (Flaherty) Kloker. She was the third of four children in the Kloker family. Walter (Slick), Ann (Toots) and Bill were her brothers and sister. They and their spouses all preceded her in death. She carried the deepest and fondest memories of her loving parents, brothers and sister and their spouses throughout her life. She was an extremely proud member of the Kloker family, from 619 East 8th Street in Anaconda – an Anaconda working class smelterman’s neighborhood sometimes known as Vinegar Hill, after a famous hill and battle in Ireland.
She attended St. Peter’s grade school and high school in Anaconda, graduating in 1939. Clara was a model student and a regular participant at daily Mass at St. Peter’s Church. Clara was an usher at the Anaconda movie theaters along with many of her friends. That job was the first in a series of jobs she had over her lifetime. Immediately upon graduation she went to work as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell. She was working on the switchboard on December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and recalled making phone connections for families of men and women on active duty in the service.
Clara married Jack Haffey on January 24, 1944, in St. Peter’s Church. Jack, also a 1939 graduate of St. Peter’s, enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1941 and went on to become a 1st Lieutenant and bomber pilot during WWII, serving in the Aleutian Islands. Clara and Jack, this proud and special Irish-American couple, had four children – John (Jack), Mary Claire, Colleen (who passed away at the age of six months) and Patricia Catherine (Pat). Clara and Jack were married for 17 years. Jack passed away in October, 1975.
Clara was a role model as a Mother, spouse, worker and manager. She was a friend to all and a true servant leader. Her work life, from 1939 through 1985, included jobs as an usher, telephone operator, grocery clerk, newsstand clerk, tire shop bookkeeper, office assistant in the Deer Lodge County Clerk and Recorder’s office and cashier in the business office of JC Penney in Anaconda. In 1965 Monsignor Tony Brown, then the President of Carroll College, asked Clara to become the manager of the bookstore at Carroll. Clara knew the job would be good for her family so she made the courageous decision to leave Anaconda and move to Helena. She managed the Carroll College bookstore from 1966 through 1985, serving as manager, co-worker, and, day in and day out, second mother and friend to the thousands of students who attended Carroll during those 20 years. Her warm smile greeted faculty, staff, students and their families as they entered the bookstore. She was extremely proud of Carroll and her opportunity to be an integral part of its growth and success, along with Monsignor Brown and former high school classmate, Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen.
In 1981, Clara’s warm smile caught the attention of a retired Iowa farmer, Clem Cavanaugh, who at the age of 66, enrolled as a freshman to obtain the education he always desired. Although a serious “older than average” student, Clem persuaded the busy bookstore manager, that they should have dinner. Thus began a courtship leading to marriage in 1983. Clara and Clem, also a WWII bomber pilot, spent the next 17 years enjoying both her family and his family until Clem’s death in 2001. They travelled to the Holy Land, Ireland, Hawaii, and throughout the United States. They enjoyed hosting family gatherings at their cozy home in Helena. The world was a better place as a result of these two Irish-Americans coming together at Carroll College.
Clara played basketball for St. Peter’s High School. She had a fiercely competitive spirit, cheering vigorously at games whenever her children were involved. She watched and leaned right into the TV whenever her Carroll College and Notre Dame football teams were on and when the Gonzaga basketball teams were playing.
Her Catholic faith was the centerpiece of her life, playing a great role in the way she loved and served all people. Her family has been blessed by her abundant gifts of love, faith, joy, acceptance, sacrifice, commitment, perseverance, and trust. Clara proudly served as Eucharistic Minister, greeter and server at funeral lunches, and was a member of the Sacred Heart League at St. Helena’s Cathedral.
Clara is survived by her son Jack, his wife Susan and their children Kelly Ann (Mike) Marker, John (Jennifer) and Dan; her daughter Mary Claire and her husband, Mark Warfield and their daughter Molly (Linn) Parish; and her daughter Pat Haffey and her husband Mike Billing and Pat’s children Julie (Thayne) McCulloh, Tom Lopach and Angie (Paul) Tranel . Her great grandchildren are Liam and Finn Haffey, Maddie and Cory Marker, Jack and Noah Haffey, Ellie and Ben Parish, Katie, Annie and Emily McCulloh, Quinn and Gavin Tranel and Breighelle Warfield.
In addition to her parents, brothers and sisters, and deceased spouses Jack and Clem, Clara is preceded in death by her daughter Colleen and her grandson Kris Warfield, and by several nephews and nieces. In the Kloker and Haffey families, Clara has numerous nieces and nephews and their families, all of whom she loved as if they were her own children.
Clara lived the last 3 1/2 years at Touchmark (Waterford) in Helena, where her warmth and kindness was reciprocated by wonderful residents and staff. While at Touchmark, she was once asked why she always smiles when she sees people, her response was “I don’t know. A smile just comes right to my face. I love everybody.”
Clara’s family extends their appreciation to the very caring staff from Touchmark, Dr. Sri Vellanki, Dr. Jessica Bailey, Dr. Kerry Ford, Dr. Lee Harrison, Dr. Andy Coil, Brenna Manion and the St. Peter’s Hospital emergency room staff, and Hospice of St. Peter’s.
Clara was and is a loving parent, spouse, employee, servant leader, friend and faith-filled girl from “Vinegar Hill” who brought life and kind, caring, generous love to all persons. She left her mark on this world and is the personification of the full and happy life, well lived.
Those desiring to make a memorial contribution in Clara’s name might consider the Clara Haffey Cavanaugh Bookstore Scholarship at Carroll College, 16 North Benton, Helena, MT 59625, or the Kris Warfield Memorial Scholarship at Excelsior Youth Center, 3754 West Indian Trail Road, Spokane WA, 99208. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Clara.
Service Schedule
Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 20, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Thursday August 21, 2014
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Immediately Following Mass
Thursday August 21, 2014
Brondel Center, Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing st.
Helena, Montana
Graveside Service
Immediately following the Reception to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday August 21, 2014
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison, Montana
Service Schedule
Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 20, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Thursday August 21, 2014
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Immediately Following Mass
Thursday August 21, 2014
Brondel Center, Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing st.
Helena, Montana
Graveside Service
Immediately following the Reception to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday August 21, 2014
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison, Montana
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Glen Cuchine says
Know my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I, like many Carroll students, was often warmed by Clara’s smile and words of encouragement. So many of us found any reason or none at all to stop in the bookstore and say hello. What a gift Clara was to all of us. Please be comforted by the happy memories of Clara.
Susan Cavanaugh Butcher says
Clara was a lovely, classy lady who made my father’s last years so very happy. My deep condolences to her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace.
Patrick Cavanaugh says
With my sister, Sue, our other siblings, Mary and Tim, and all our families, I offer our sincere and heart-felt condolences to Clara’s Montana family for our loss of this wonderful lady. God’s hand was clearly at work when our father made his way to Helena in the early 1980s to attend Carroll College in his retirement and found Clara at the bookstore. We were all so delighted that she and he were able to enjoy so many years together in such a beautiful place. Perpetual light will shine upon her.
Robet Roxby says
Jack,
I was your French teacher at Carroll many, many years ago. Joe Munzenrider let me know about your mother’s passing. I remember her clearly from those days when I was a young teacher and she was manager of the bookstore and a great friend to all. My condolences you and all her family.
Bob
Mary Claire "Murray" Ebert says
Clara was the definition of a lady. The world is a better place because of Clara. The Murray family loved her. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Shari (Smart) McDonald says
Mary Claire, I have so many different memories of your Mom. Not only at the Carroll College bookstore but also my personal memories of your Mom when I would stop by and see you which was fairly frequently at times!
My love and prayers to you and your family.
Shari
Lynn (Waldo) Wood says
I remember the last time we took my mom to see your mom a couple of years ago, and as most times they were together they would always talk about the summer they spent in Fort Peck while my grandfather worked on the dam. The one part that always stood out they never would sleep in the tent because they slept in the car. Now my mom and yours can tell everyone in heaven how special their friendship was through all these years. May God bless all of you.