Clarma Allen Boone

Such loyalty was a constant for Clarma, who invested her time in what mattered to her most – family. Clarma was the very image of a consummate mother, grandmother, and wife. She doted on her five sons, throwing her energy into their hobbies and interests, sewing costumes or building puppet sets. That zest for motherhood often went beyond the reach of her own kids. An image her children adore is that of Clarma zipping around Statesville in a yellow 1972 Jeep CJ-5, followed by gleefully yipping dogs as she dropped a flock of neighborhood kids crowded in the back off from school.

Clarma Boone was born in Park Rapids, Minnesota on February 7, 1927 to John Dayton Allen and Gladys Katzenmeyer Allen—a birth made all the more exciting because her father had to use a one-horse sleigh to convey mother and daughter home from the hospital, taking a short cut across a frozen lake in the North Woods to reach their cabin.

Valedictorian at Colonial Beach High School in Virginia, Clarma graduated from National Business College, Roanoke Virginia, in 1946, where she met her future husband Harry Vester Boone, Jr. They were married October 25, 1947 and lived in Rocky Mount, Virginia for 11 years before moving to Statesville.

Clarma had a special gift of relating to and instructing young people. Once her own children were grown, she translated that gift into a reputable tutoring business. She worked as a contract teacher for the Statesville School system, and the Renaissance School, and she tutored children and adults privately. Her specialties were teaching English as a Second Language, enhancing reading comprehension, and devising alternative strategies for learning disabilities.

She will be remembered by her children and grandchildren most especially for instilling in them a love for learning, exploring and reading. She encouraged them to dream and to seek individual paths to creativity, expression, and self-fulfillment. She will be cherished as a confidant, mentor, coach, advocate, lover of animals and earth, inspiration, model of integrity and charity, and most wonderful mother.

Clarma Boone was a gardener whose talents brought her a yard beautification award from the city. She also enjoyed travel domestically and internationally. She said frequently that she preferred travel within the U.S because it is country of such great diversity that one can never see too much of it. Her other great love was for animals—she happily took in innumerable strays over the years, starting with ones her own children would bring home.

A faithful member for First Baptist Church since 1958, Clarma taught 3rd grade Sunday School for decades and participated in multiple other church activities.

Clarma was preceded in death by her mother in 1939, her father in 1951, her only sibling, Joycelyn Chittum in 2013, and her oldest son David Andrew Boone in 2014. She is survived by her husband Harry Vester Boone, Jr., and her four sons Joseph Allen (Los Angeles, CA), Harry Walton (Atlanta, GA and his wife Zan Schuweiler and son Walt), John Dayton (Reno, NV) and Benjamin Vester (Fresno, CA and wife Alice Daniel and sons Atticus and Asher).

The family will receive friends Thursday evening, October 30th between 6 and 8 pm at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home. The interment service will commence at 11am in Oakwood Cemetery with the funeral service following at 1pm at First Baptist Church, Davie Avenue, Dr. Jack Causey officiating.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625; First Baptist Church, 815 Davie Avenue, Statesville, NC 28677; or to a charitable organization of the donor’s choice.

Services have been entrusted to Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home.