Clarice J. Pettijohn

PETTIJOHN, JONES, CHESEBRO, BORCHERDING, WILSON, SCHWIRTZ, GIBSON, WILLIAMS

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 7/21/2010 at 15:47:10

Clarice J. Pettijohn, age 95, of Shell Rock, died on Friday, November 21, 2008 at the Shell Rock Health Care Center.

Clarice was born on November 11, 1913 in Shell Rock, Iowa, the daughter of Dr. Miles and Louise Jones Chesebro.

Clarice turned 95 this month; she was very proud of this accomplishment and celebrated with a party and cake. Clarice was raised and educated in Shell Rock and graduated from the Shell Rock High School in 1931. She then attended Wartburg College for a year, taught country school in Dryer, Iowa for a year, and then attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls where she graduated in 1934 with an Elementary Certificate. She then taught at the Hamilton High School until 1936. On January 1, 1936 Clarice was united in marriage to Clyde Pettijohn at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They made their home in Waverly for two years and then moved to Shell Rock where Clarice would spend time raising their son and helping at the Pettijohn Hardware Store.

Church has always played a big role in Clarice's life. She was raised in the Congregational Church in Shell Rock and after it closed she became a member of the Shell Rock United Methodist Church in April of 1939. Clarice taught 7th and 8th grade and high school girls' Sunday school, was a member of Dorcas Circle, the United Methodist Women, Church Administrative Board, and secretary and treasurer of the Memorial Fund.

Other memberships included Eastern Star (50 year member), Shell Rock Book Review Club, and the Shell Rock Care Center Auxiliary from its conception. Her enjoyments included bird watching, wild flowers, and community activities.

Clarice's memory is honored by her son, Reverend Paul C. (Lorraine) Pettijohn of Yorktown, VA, two granddaughters, Anne (Major Robert) Borcherding, US Army, of Charlottesville, NC and Lisa (Major Ramey) Wilson, of Ft. Bragg, NC, five great grandchildren, Katie, Ellie, and Meredith Borcherding and Tyler and Seth Wilson, two nieces, Deb Schwirtz of Belen, NM and Nancy Gibson of Kansas City, MO, and a nephew, Don Chesebro of Sequim, WA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, Paul and Charles Chesebro and two sisters, Eloise Williams and Imogene Chesebro.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 26 at the Shell Rock United Methodist Church with Pastor Christine Pauley and Reverend Realff Ottesen officiating.

Burial will follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Shell Rock.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 25, at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Shell Rock where family will greet friends from 6 until 8 P.M.

A memorial has been established to the Shell Rock United Methodist Church or Cedar Valley Hospice.