The Life of CLARA M DAROS
Clara Marie Harper DaRos, 86, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend whose grace and love of life inspired all who knew her, died Friday, March 2, 2012, at her daughter’s home in Arizona, from Alzheimer’s Disease.
Clara was born February 26, 1926, to Lawrence and Nellie Harper in Des Moines. She retired from Des Moines Public Schools in 1986 when she and her husband, Augustino DaRos moved to Sunrise Beach, Missouri. In 2005, at the age of 80, she gave up her big yard, garden, and big home to live near her daughter, Barbara, and her family in Arizona.
Clara, over the years, worked at Reeds Ice Cream, Lambert Dairy, and Des Moines Public Schools. She also worked as a beautician at the Fort Des Moines Base during WWII.
Clara is survived by her children, Barbara Clifford of Mesa, AZ and Larry (Marlene) DaRos of Ankeny; daughter-in-law, Julie DaRos of Ankeny; grandchildren, Shannon (Toby) DaRos-Hall of Polk City, Brandy (Tom) Strong-Sally of Ankeny, Scott (Morgana) DaRos of Ankeny, Jean (Kurt) Werner of Washougal, WA, and Eric (Sandi) Clifford of Queen Creek, AZ; ten great-grandchildren; sisters, Helen Jones, Mary Marose, and Annabell Daughenbaugh; sisters-in-law, Leona and Beulah Harper; many nieces; nephews; cousins; and beloved friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Augustino; son, Auggie; parents, Lawrence and Nellie Harper; beloved brothers, Donald and Frank “Jimmy” Harper; brothers-in-law, Bob Jones, Glen Marose, and Howard Daughenbaugh.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 121 NW 60th Avenue, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Family will greet friends 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice Family Care, 1550 S. Alma School Road, Suite 102, Mesa, AZ, 85210 in loving memory of Clara.