Clara (Tommy) DeHaven Kidder

Our beautiful and beloved mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt and friend Clara Thomas (known as Tommy all her life by family and friends) Kidder passed into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on November 6, 2010 at the Pavilions in Traverse City at age 93. She was born in rural Hardinsburg, KY on January 28, 1917 to Adolphus and Judith (Ball) DeHaven on a farm where her family raised all their own animals and vegetables for their own needs as well as tobacco as a cash crop. Her direct ancestor and great, great, great uncle, Jacob DeHaven of Pennsylvania loaned his fortune in gold and supplies to the Continental Congress to further the revolutionary cause and therein helped establish the United States of America. George Washington’s mother was an ancestor on her mother’s side. Clara left Hardinsburg as a young woman to work as a student nurse in Battle Creek, MI at the beginning of World War II. There she met and married her first husband William G. Weber on September 23, 1942. Bill was overseas for most of the first three years of their marriage serving with the Army in Italy and North Africa during which time their first child, Judith was born. When he returned they moved to Bill’s home-town of Traverse City and continued building their family of four children, Judy Reese, Sally (Jay) Beery, William J. (Kathy) Weber and Mary (Bob) Smith. Clara worked as a nurse’s aide and ward clerk at the old Medical Care Facility until her retirement at age 62 where she made many lifelong friends.

Clara was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church and lived her Christian beliefs in the example she set for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a curious mind, great sense of humor and an excellent sense of direction which served her well in finding out of the way places to explore. She especially loved travel, both to near and far-away places. She enjoyed reading, cards and games of all kinds, picnics and outings and most of all spending time with her family. On September 9, 1989 at age 72, she married Clifford (Duffy) Kidder in Traverse City and they spent many winters in Florida during the time they were married. After Duffy’s death, Clara continued to live independently until age 92 when her health declined to the point where she needed assistance and moved to Hawthorne Cottage at the Pavilions. As her health continued to decline she moved to the Pavilions, Birch unit where she received excellent care until the end of her life.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Ballard and John DeHaven, sister Anna Murl DeHaven (at age 21), her first husband William Weber on August 3, 1968 and her second husband, Duffy Kidder on October 25, 2001, as well as her son-in-law Thomas K. Reese on July 4, 2006. She was preceded in death by many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law as well as nieces and nephews. In addition to her children, she is survived by grandchildren Scott (Sue) Reese and sons, Alex and Adam; Angella (Rick) McWilliams and children, Cole and Lauren; Alan (Trinja) Fuller and son, Brune; Joshua (Lily) Beery expecting their first child in February; Zachary (Shannon) Beery and son, Holden, expecting their second child the end of December; Kendra Brooke (Tony) Yuresko and children, Carson, Lauren and Hudson; Andrew (Melissa) Smith and children, Caleb, Grace, Melody and Marlee; and Jason (Melissa) Smith and children, Ezekiel, Alexis and Dylan. Clara is also survived by many nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law, Shirley Weber, Joyce Weber, Mae Morse and Helen and husband LaVern Broughton.

The service will be at Covell Funeral Home on Saturday, November 13 with visitation taking place at 11:30 A.M. and the funeral at 12:30 P.M. Graveside services will follow immediately thereafter and a funeral luncheon will follow the graveside services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church in Traverse City; Paralyzed Veterans of America at www.supportvets.org or at 7 Mill Brook Rd., Wilton, NH 03086; or the ALS Association (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) at alsa.org or Headquarters & Executive Office 1275 K Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: (202) 407-8580

The family would especially like to thank the special loving staff of Birch at the Pavilions for their wonderful care of our mother over the past year and a half as well as Hospice of Northwest Michigan for their tender supportive care during her last days.