Clara Mae (Mitchell) Jackson, age 96, died Friday, January 2nd at her home in Bella Vista, Arkansas.  She was the middle child of seven children born to George and Bertha Mitchell of rural Walnut, Kansas.

Clara grew up on her parent's farm, she walked a mile to attend a one room country grade school and graduated from Walnut High School Walnut, Kansas in 1946.  After graduating, she left the farm and went to Kansas City in search of a job.   She worked at several places before settling for Taystee Bread at 2401 Burlington, North Kansas City.  Taystee Bread was a part of the American Bread Company.  Clara worked there until she retired in 1968.

She married Edward Dale Jackson on June 2, 1950.  They lived in Kansas City North until moving to Bella Vista in 1968.  Clara liked to stay busy, she continued to work after moving to Bella Vista, finding time to grow flowers and a garden.  She especially enjoyed volunteering at Helping Hands, where she enjoyed the friendship of other volunteers.

Preceding her in death - besides her parents are her husband, Edward Dale Jackson; a son, Mark Jackson of Bella Vista, Arkansas; three Brothers: John Mitchell of Chanute, Kansas, Donald Mitchell of Salisaw, Oklahoma, and Wm (Bill) Mitchell of Kansas City; two sisters: Imogene Hays of Oklahoma City and Marion Lowe of Girard, Kansas.

She is survived by her son, Michael D. Jackson (Shannon) of Bella Vista; three grandsons: Christopher Thomas (Cassandra) of Lake of the Ozark, Brandon Jackson, Goodman, Missouri, and Michael A. Jackson of Lake of the Ozarks; five great-grandchildren; her sister, Dorothy Ricketts of Erie, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom will miss her greatly!

A celebration of life is scheduled for later.  Burial of her ashes will be at Walnut Cemetery, Walnut, Kansas.