Earl Jacob Burnett & Clara May Huddleston Burnett

In spite of a very tough childhood that Earl did not like to talk about, Earl became a very hard worker. As a child, he supported his family. Starting as a farmer, later his primary career became that of a railroad engineer on the Missouri Pacific railroad. He also was a landlord and owned several rental homes.

Clara was born Clara May Huddleston on a farm in Arkansas to the parents of Wiley and Arstene Edmonia "Eddie" Huddleston. She had an older half-sister Pearl, an older sister, Nellie, and two younger sisters, Opal and Emma. All of her sisters have preceded her in death.

Clara married Earl Jacob Burnett in Evening Shade, Arkansas on January 2, 1932 during the great depression. During this time they farmed in Arkansas as well as Earl working on the railroad when work was available. During this period Earl "John" Burnett Jr. was born in 1933, twin daughters, Barbara and Betty were born in 1935.

In 1941 the family moved to St. Louis and lived in the Soulard area on 9th Street. Earl was now working full time for the railroad. St. Louis would be home for Earl and Clara until the Lord took them home to be with Him. Later they purchased a home at 5616 Devonshire and in 1968 moved to a home in the suburb of Affton at 6403 Darlow Drive, across the street from their daughter Barbara. Clara remained their until January of 1997 when she entered Good Samaritan Home, 5200 S. Broadway and in late 2001 moved to Bethesda Dilworth, 9645 Big Bend Boulevard in Kirkwood.

Clara had 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was a wonderful grandmother who loved to do things for her grandchildren. She left wonderful memories for them to cherish. Each grandchild can tell of things she did that made them feel so special. This was one of her gifts from the Lord as well as her gift of hospitality.

Clara was a homemaker, beautician, and an expert seamstress, she loved to sew everything from children's clothes to quilts. She was always busy working. She even mowed her own yard until she was 85.

Since 1948 she attended Spring & Blaine Church of Christ, which later became Affton Church of Christ, until 1997 when her health no longer permitted. She was a strong Christian who knew her Bible well.

She was preceded in death by Earl. He died in 1993 at the age of 83. They had 61 years together. His death was the biggest loss in her life. She never quite recovered from his death. She passed on at the age of 93 and is buried alongside Earl at Our Redeemer Cemetary, 8300 MacKenzie Road, St. Louis, MO.

She will be missed by all who loved her.