I just found out from Clara's church.  I met Clara in the neighborhood and she told me many amazing stories and introduced me to wonderful experiences.  I spent a lot of time with her until I moved in 1998 and stayed in contact with her sporadically since.  She was wonderful and her loss is a tragedy on many levels.  Her life should have been documented and recorded.  I hope her stories live on with many more people than just me.

I loved to chat with Ms Boone on her daily walks - I was regularly late to work because when I saw her, I had to stop and walk a little with her.  She was sweet, yet feisty, and dedicated to the community.  She will be missed.

Ms. Boone was a neighborhood treasure, from her dedication to her students at Payne to her involvement in the community.  She was wonderful.

I will miss our occasional walk around the block and the discussion of history and how the neighborhood has been and how it's changed. Your smile and ever present old world charm and relish you exhibit in the sound of birds chirping or the sun rising. You were one of a kind!

I am so sorry to read of Ms. Boone's passing. She was a smart, funny, sly, goodhearted, charismatic character that I enjoyed talking with every chance I had.

Clara Boone has been my near neighbor on Bay St for 25 years. (She'd lived here since the early 60's.) On our walks together, neighbors and former pupils from Payne Elementary (where she'd taught 5th grade) often stopped to chat. They thanked her for patient individual encouragement and guidance; many recounted stories of ways that Clara had nurtured them.

Clara was quite a charmer.  One morning last April, she called and left a message, "What does the great prognosticator think of the weather?  Suitable for a walk today? Thanks for being such a terrific fellow!" 

That was her genteel way of asking me to take her for a little stroll down  the block. I relished our little excursions and our philosophical chats on her porch afterwards; I couldn't resist her request or her company.

I miss her every day.

Clara was a wonderful champion of music by women, and a fine composer herself. How sad that she is gone. But her legacy remains with us forever.
Emma Lou Diemer. Santa Barbara, CA.

Clara was such a unique individual, ready to fix the things she believed needed fixing. This passion led her to run for the US Congress in Kentucky, to found and run Arsis Press, to turn up at the concerts of her Arsis Press composers here in DC. She was a born pioneer, like her Boone ancestors. Clara was a wonderful sight on Capitol Hill, biking to her errands in a broad rimmed sun hat and white gloves. Her innate gentility and Southern manners masked her true identity as a determined revolutionary. She led the way for women composers for at least two generations, and she did change the things that needed changing for all of us.

Clara Boone's advocacy of women's music dating from the 1950's culminated in the founding of Arsis Press in 1974. Her publications provided a springboard for many composers; her friendship and advice were priceless. Thank you, Clararest in peace!

It was always a pleasure speaking to Clara on the phone.  We not only discussed business, but shared our life stories as well.  She was simply amazing.  Her heart was as pure as her soul.  God bless you Clara!

Clara Lyle Boone had many accomplishments but I knew her best as a passionate feminist, a pioneering publisher of women's music and steadfast friend.  Her press was the first to publish my music and that made a world of difference to me and to others like me whose first publications came through Arsis Press.  The Washington Post wrote a feature article about her in 1997 that is a lively account of her working life (and which can be seen at http://arsispress.com/Arsispressstory.html).  

I mourn her loss and will forever remember and cherish her friendship and support.

Ms Boone was always a pleasant beautiful friendly woman to all   I remember her always walking to the Safeway when I was a little girl. May she rest in peace she made a mark in a lot of young hearts

MS. Boone always had a great smile and an intelligent conversation she will be missed by a lot of people may God bless her.

OBITUARY

Clara Lyle Boone

September 6, 1927 – June 21, 2015

Joseph Gawler’s Sons, LLC

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services