Clarence Ayers was born in 1918 in Morrison County, Minnesota. His parents, Arthur and Effie, had four children. Clare was the second, after his older sister Pearl and before two younger brothers, Harold and Orville. At South High School, he met Carol Ruth Thomas. They were married in 1937. Carol died in 1991 after 54 years of marriage. They had three sons: Thomas, Gerald (who died in 2006), and Michael. In November of 1952, they moved to a house on 25th Street, where Clare lived for 56 years until his heart attack. In the last few years, he enjoyed the help of his granddaughters Katherine, Megan, and Sharon.
Clare is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Orville and Geraldine residing in Richfield; a second sister-in-law, Geraldine Ayers of Arkansas; son Thomas residing in Illinois; daughter-in-law Karen Ayers, widow of Gerald Ayers, residing in Minneapolis; and son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Judy also residing in Minneapolis. In addition, Clare leaves seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, including one born on the 8th of January this year. Clare had the chance to meet this new great-grandson while he was at Hennepin County Medical Center after the first of three heart attacks within the space of about two weeks. Clare Ayers died on the 3rd of February, 2008, at the age of 89.
In his later years, he suffered from diminished hearing, diminished eyesight, a diminished sense of balance. He most assuredly did not suffer from a diminished sense of humor, right up to the last few days.
There will be a memorial service at Epworth United Methodist Church, 3207 37th Ave So, at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9th. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the church are preferred.
Bradshaw Minnehaha
612-724-3621