Bucher, Clara M. Basinger (1871-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Jan 6 p. 9 [bio]

Birth date: 1871 Dec 12

text of obituary:

Still Enjoys Quilting, Reading

Observes 100th Birthday

Mrs. Clara Bucher on her 100th birthday

FORTUNA, MO. — Mrs. Clara Bucher, a long-time member of the Bethel Mennonite Church near Fortuna, celebrated her 100th birthday on Dec. 12 at her farm home in Moniteau County.

Mrs. Bucher enjoys good health and good eyesight, so that she is able to piece many quilt blocks and also help with quilting. She lives with a daughter, Mrs. Bessie Warkentin. A sister, Mrs. Linda Bucher of California, Mo., stays with them during the winter months. Last winter they quilted 13 quilts, and since September of this year they have quilted four quilts.

Mrs. Bucher reads her Bible every day, and enjoys receiving visits from relatives and friends.

JOINING her for the birthday observance were four of her six children: Mrs. Warkentin of the home, Mrs. Fannie Senior of California, Mo., Mrs. Anna Gracy of Denver, Colo., and Rev. Delbert Bucher of St. Louis, Mo. Unable to attend were Mrs. Ella Adams of Waco, Texas and Rev. Elbert Bucher of Peoria, Ill.

Also attending were a number of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and other relatives. There are 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 10 step great-grandchildren, and six step great-great-grandchildren.

MRS. BUCHER received 190 birthday cards from relatives and friends, and a greeting from President Nixon. She also received a number of arrangements of cut flowers and potted plants. The Women's Missionary Society of the Bethel Church presented her with a three-tier decorated birthday cake, baked by Mrs. Elbert Lehman, and her sister also had a cake made for her.

Mrs. Bucher's daughter Edith died in June 1968 and her husband, Eli, died on Oct. 30 the same year.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Jan 10 p. 11

text of obituary:

CLARA M. BUCHER

Clara M. Bucher was born on Dec. 12, 1871 to Adam and Anna Garber Basinger at Fortuna, Mo. She lived in this community all her life.

On Dec. 16, 1897 she was married to Eli Bucher, who preceded her in death in 1968.

Mother was baptized and joined the Bethel Mennonite Church at the age of 15. She loved to read, and read her Bible until the last three weeks when she was bedfast. Then she repeated Scriptures from memory. She loved to piece quilt blocks and helped quilt until the middle of last October. She enjoyed callers and read letters. On Dec. 12, 1973, eight days after her death, she would have been 102 years old.

Her daughter, Mrs. Bessie Warkentin, counted it a joy to be able to take care of her parents on the home farm. Both went home to be with the Lord in their home. Mother was blessed with good health,had never been in a hospital and had her first

shot in the home three weeks before her death.

She leaves to honor her memory four daughters, Mrs Bessie Warkentin and Mrs. W. B. (Fannie) Senior, both of California, Mo., Mrs. Kenneth (Ella) Adams of Waco, Texas, Mrs. Anna Gracy of Denver Colo.; two sons, Rev. Delbert Bucher of Hazelwood, Mo. and Rev. Elbert Bucher of Peoria, Ill.; one sister, Mrs. Linda Bucher of California, Mo.; 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Dec. 6 at 2 pm. at the Bethel Mennonite Church with the pastor, Rev. Russell Welty, officiating. The congregation sang some of her favorite songs and a duet was sung by her great-grandchildren, Ronnie and Marsha Garber.