Clara Jeannette Tucker Maddox departed her loving family on December 30th, 2021.

Clara was born in Rolla, Missouri on October 2nd, 1944 to Roxie and Sherman Tucker. Clara graduated from Rolla High School in Rolla, MO. She went on to Central Missouri State University, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Education while spending time with her future husband at the Baptist Student Union, watching episodes of Star Trek while knitting.

Clara married Ralph Lee Maddox of Gladstone, MO on May 28th, 1966. Soon after, she launched a long career in the “family business” of education, teaching in Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, eventually retiring from Ridgeview Elementary in Olathe, KS as the vocal music teacher.

Teaching and mentoring was a theme in Clara’s life, as she also spent many years as a private piano teacher in the home. Clara served as a Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) program mentor. She was a founding member of the Heart of America Suzuki Teacher’s Association. Clara also taught both her daughters and several grandchildren to knit and was able to teach both left-handed and right-handed knitting.

Clara had a heart and calling for mission work throughout her life. During college, Clara worked as a summer missionary in Kentucky, Washington state and also worked a summer for the Georgia Baptist Convention. Clara’s calling to share God’s word and to do His work extended across the globe, as she – along with her cousin Pat Bredbenner of Fallon, Missouri, traveled to Kaduna, Nigeria in 2009, 2012 and 2014 to help with digitizing print material to aid pastoral students at the library of the Baptist Seminary.

Clara’s church service intersected with her musical talents through her years as the church organist, as well as directing children’s choirs and handbell choirs.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Sherman G. Tucker.

She is survived by her husband Ralph Lee Maddox, sister Linda Sue Stewart and her husband Les Stewart, and daughters Laura Jeannette Maddox Haney and Jennifer Maddox Walterman along with Jennifer’s husband Kenneth Walterman. Clara will be remembered by grandchildren Sarajane Jeannette Haney, Julia Ramsey Haney, Jordan Louise Flynn, Jacob Lee Flynn, bonus grandchildren Justin and Elizabeth Walterman, Jeremy and Morgan Walterman, Lauren Walterman, and great-grandchildren Emma and McKenna Walterman.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made at CurePSP.org, a nonprofit organization working to improve awareness, education, care and cure for the neurodegenerative disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

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