Clela Marie Mann, 101, passed away at Friendship Village, Tempe Arizona, in the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Clela was born on January 4, 1923 to Chester S. and Zeta G (Gillard) Bower near Golden Gate, Illinois. She grew up on the farm and learned many skills she used all her life.
She married Clarence W. Mann of Ellery, Illinois on March 15, 1942. Clarence was drafted into the Army a few months after they were married and spent the first years of their married life serving in Italy and France. After he returned home, they lived and started a family on their farm four miles west of Albion, Illinois. Four children were born to Clela and Clarence; Roger (Glenda) Mann, Kathi (Michael) Roark, Glenda (George) Flanagin and Wanda Smith.
Being a farm wife and raising 4 children kept her busy. She grew a big garden every summer and canned or froze wonderful produce for her family. She taught her daughters to cook, garden and sew and took them to music lessons and 4-H meetings. Her children all enjoyed coming home from school to the smell fresh-baked cinnamon rolls on the table.
Clela was a member of Little Prairie Christian Church. For many years, Clela and Clarence spent their summers in Ellery and winters in Arizona. She always enjoyed sewing and quilting and spent many happy hours quilting at the Chandler Senior Center and puttering around in her flower bed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers (Ira John and Fred). She is survived by her 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Wednesday, November 6, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Ingram Meridith Funeral Home in Albion, IIllinois.
Funeral Service: Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home following visitation.
Burial: Will follow in Graceland Cemetery at Albion, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Little Prairie Christian Church or Hospice of the Valley
Little Prairie Christian Church
857 CR 200 E Albion, IL 62806
Hospice of the Valley 1510 E. Flower St. Phoenix, AZ 85014
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