July 29, 1913 – November 19, 2012 Willie Ann Hawthorne Clawson passed away Monday, November 19, 2012 in Gainesville at the age of ninety-nine. She was born July 29, 1913 on the family farm in Hughes County, Oklahoma to William Charles and Caldonia Melissa Evans Hawthorne. In later years the family moved to Holdenville, Oklahoma where Willie Ann met and married her high school sweetheart, Homer Lloyd Clawson in June 1931. They had three children, Loy Jean, Donna Wilene and their much beloved (by all four) son, William Robert (Billy Bob), now deceased.
During WWII while Homer was stationed in Adek, Alaska for two years, Willie Ann worked for Beach Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas as an inspector (almost Rosie the Riveter!). When Homer’s tour in Alaska ended the family lived in Seattle, Washington and Alexandria, Virginia. After time in the military ended, the family lived in Monument, New Mexico, Norman, Oklahoma and finally Gainesville where Homer worked for the Gainesville Register. During these years Willie Ann, an accomplished seamstress, worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. She also worked as an inspector for Texas Instruments.
For their 50th wedding anniversary a family reunion was held in Oklahoma City. Since Willie Ann and her three surviving sisters and Homer and his three brothers were all from Holdenville, and all knew each other, it was a great get-together. Sixty relatives attended.
For twenty-one years following his stroke in 1993, Willie Ann was Homer’s loving care-giver. We consider her a heroine for the dedicated care she gave him.
Willie Ann is survived by daughters, Donna Cloer and husband, Sam of Gainesville and Loy Riggs of Oklahoma City; grandchildren, Deann Paradise of Gainesville, Keith Cloer and wife, Annette of Mulkelteo, Washington and Craig and Doug Riggs of Oklahoma City; great-grandchildren Michael Paradise of Gainesville and Ryann and Adam Riggs of Ponca City, Oklahoma and sister-in-law, Claudine Clawson of Vivian, Louisiana. Preceding Willie Ann in death were her husband, parents, son, sisters, Eva Horne, Sallie Hawthorne, Lela Davis, Pearl Rhoton and brother, Clarence Hawthorne; son-in-law, David Riggs and all other sisters and brothers-in-law.
The family wishes to thank the members and pastor of First Baptist Church and other family friends for their faithful visits to cheer Willie Ann at Gainesville Health and Rehab Center. We also appreciate the loving care given to our mother by the staff at the care center and employees of Home Hospice of Cooke County. Thank God for you all!!
Funeral Services For Willie Ann Clawson will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 24th at Meador-Clement-Keel Chapel with Rev. Hubert Wright officiating. Burial will be 1:00 p.m. Monday at Fairview Cemetery. Doug Riggs, Craig Riggs, Keith Cloer, Adam Riggs, Michael Paradise and Hart Clawson will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Services are under the direction of Meador-Clement-Keel Funeral Home.