HARRISVILLE -- A Graveside Service for Clara J. (Cole) Atkinson, age 95, of Harrisville, NY, will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Harrisville Cemetery with Pastor Robert LaClair officiating.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Monday, November 20, 2023, at Frary Funeral Home, Harrisville.
Arrangements are under the care of the direction of the Frary Funeral Home.
Mrs. Atkinson passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, under the care of St. Lawrence Valley Hospice, at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Clara is survived by three children, Sherry Hearnes and her husband, Kenneth, of Watertown, NY, Richard Atkinson and his wife, Shelene, of Harrisville, NY, and Lance Atkinson of Alba, TX; ten grandchildren, Shawna Mehaffy, Tamara Gross, Ryan Hearnes, Adam Atkinson, Chalo McMillen, Liza Atkinson, Sara Atkinson, Kyra Atkinson, Leah Richardson, and Cole Atkinson; and thirty great-grandchildren and one great great grandchild, Amira Manchester.
Clara is predeceased by her parents, Floyd and Cora Cole; her brother, Floyd Cole; sisters, Estella Tuttle and Agnes Slye, and a great-granddaughter, Lily Hearnes, in infancy.
Clara was born on December 14, 1927, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, to the late Floyd and Cora (Grow) Cole.
She graduated from Belleville Union Academy and later from Watertown School of Commerce where she obtained her associate degree.
Clara married Richard C. Atkinson on August 26, 1950, in Black River, NY. He predeceased her on December 22, 2010.
Clara began her career working at the Sanitarium in Watertown, later working at the First National Bank and retiring from Key Bank as a bank teller in Gouverneur, NY.
Clara enjoyed knitting and quilting, maintaining her garden at home, and was an avid reader.
She was a past member of the Marble City Beagle Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Grange, and Order of the Eastern Star.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Clara’s memory to the Town of Diana Historical Museum, PO Box 216, Harrisville, NY 13648, and the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department, 14226 Church Street Harrisville, NY 13648.
Online condolences may be made at www.fraryfuneralhome.com.
