Clara May Ray Brooks Sumner

Clara May Ray was born on October 7 1889 in Kentucky. She was the third child, but only 2nd surviving child, of her parents Sudie Ida Riggs and Robert A Ray. Her mother had 3 more children after Clara, 2 boys and 1 girl. Sadly in 1900 Clara's little sister, 5 year old Eva, passed away, and in 1903 her mother also died. Robert, now having 13 year old Clara, 10 year old Henry, and 3 year old Leroy, quickly remarried Lula Hunt, 20 years his junior. Two more daughters quickly followed the marriage.

In 1909 Clara married Thomas Roy Brooks. Clara's older sister Mary had been married to Roy's brother John but sadly he had passed away. Clara and Roy had 5 children Orlin (1910), Thelma (1912), Mildred (1915), May (1919), and Roy (1925). The family lived in Rumsey, KY where Roy worked as a blacksmith for several years before returning back to a life of farming. In 1930 Roy moved the family to take care of his father until his death. In 1933 Roy passed away from heart problems due to having pneumonia.

Clara and Patrick Sumner

Clara was left to raise 5 children alone, including the youngest Roy who was visually impaired and would eventually be sent to a school for the blind. In 1936 she married Patrick Sumner, a widower with three of his own children. Patrick was a carpenter, and they moved to Jefferson, Kentucky with Patrick's mother, his youngest son, and Clara's two sons. They went back to Owensboro, KY as frequently as they could to visit with Clara's family that lived there. Patrick died in 1949.

Kenneth, Mildred, Clara, Thelma, and Orlin

Having now outlived two husbands Clara still went on to live a long full life. She died just three weeks after her 96th birthday on October 27 1985. She was survived by her 5 children, 1 stepson, 9 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 1 half-sister.

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Five generations Clara - daughter Thelma - grand daughter Carole, great grand daughter Vivian, and great great grandson Eric.

Clara and her son Orlin

Clara is my 2nd cousin 3x removed.

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Thomas Roy Brooks - her first husband