Clara Virginia Bennett Sites Gilliam passed away at Madison Rehabilitation Center in Madison, Florida on August 3, 1915. She was 95 years old.
Clara was born on June 27, 1920 in West Virginia to Claude and Della Bennett. She married George Franklin Sites in 1936 and had six children. The family moved to Arizona where they worked together to build two houses. George worked for Shell Oil Company in the daytime while Clara made the blocks to build the house. In 1955 the family moved to Florida where Clara started a drapery business. Shelfer Blitch of Quincy recommended her to all their customers. Clara and George divorced in 1962.
In 1969 Clara married William Clyde Gilliam, Jr. William had three children from a prior marriage, Tony, Evelyn and Barbara. The family moved to Alaska where they homesteaded and lived off the land before buying property in Glennallen. While living in Alaska, at the age of 65 Clara shot and dressed a moose while William attended a family member’s funeral. They became active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Glennallen.
They retired and moved to Greenville, Florida in 1998.
The viewing will be on August 7, at 9:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1374 W. Base St. Madison, Florida and funeral service following at 10 a.m. Internment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
Clara was preceded in death by her husband, William Clyde Gillian; two sons: William George Sites and Thaymer C. Sites; granddaughter, Rockcenna Lynn; and two great-grandchildren: Charles Durbin and Justine Sites. She is survived by four children: Ira John, Sr. (Eloise) Sites, Lowell Zane (Lucretia) Sites, Fannie Hope (Wilmer) Smith and Swinton James Sites; three stepchildren: Anthony Gilliam, Barbara Gilliam and Evelyn Gilliam; 15 grandchildren: Dinah (Mark) Foster, Clara (Tom) Becker, Gina Murphy, William-Billy (Joanne) Sites, Wilmer Chason Smith (Sue Cole), Deborah Hope Smith Frederick, Ira John Jr. (Tonya) Sites, Edward A. Sites, Sherry R. Massey, Rhonda Lynn Sites, Dena Nicole Sites, Dawn Michelle Hoem, Eric Wayne Sites and Paul Sites: seven step-grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 11 step-great-grandchildren and 22 great-great-grandchildren.