Clara Emery

Clara H. Emery, 96, died January 21, 2007 in Federal Way, Washington where she had resided the past 30 years. The daughter of Herman and Anna (Matta) Hyrkas, she was born August 23, 1910 in Centerville, Washington. When she was age two she moved with her parents to a farm in Salmon Creek, east of Naselle. Clara attended the Lower Salmon Creek School and Naselle High School. She worked at the Deep River Cooperative Store and then moved to Astoria where she worked at the dental office of Dr. Parpala. On a blind date she met Bud Emery in Tillamook and after knowing each other three days they decided to get married in Newport, Oregon. Clara lived in Newport, Tillamook, Empire, North Bend, Portland and in Panama as her husband worked on a US Army Corps of Engineers dredge. Following retirement Clara and Bud moved to Federal Way. Clara was a devoted wife and mother. She had many wonderful memories of her childhood in Salmon Creek and enjoyed staying in touch with old friends still residing in the area. Besides her husband, she is survived by daughter Anne Anderson of Mount Vernon, WA; three grandchildren and a great grandchild. She was preceded in death by several siblings, a son and a daughter. Graveside service will be Thursday, January 25, 2007, 3:00 PM at Salmon Creek Cemetery, Naselle. The family requests memorial donations to the Deep River Pioneer Lutheran Church in care of Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, PO Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631.