Clara Lou (LaReau) Butler was born a preemie in Wanette, OK to Lela and Louis LaReau on June 1, 1923. She was named after a neighbor, Grandma Clara Gentry, who saved her life by dipping her in warm then cold water to make her gasp and take her first breath after the doctor had declared her a hopeless case. Her dad, not fond of the name Clara, nicknamed her "Skeeze" a shortened form of a character from his favorite comic strip Gasoline Alley. Even today, she is known by many not as Clara, but as "Skeeze." Her childhood was spent working on the farm: gathering eggs, picking cotton, catching frogs and roasting them on a spit by "Pond Creek". When she was twelve she was thrilled to welcome baby brother, Rodney who she toted around like a little doll. The highlight of her high school years was singing in the Wanette HS Glee Club. After graduation her daddy borrowed $100 for Clara to head to "the city" to pursue her dream of being a nurse at Wesley Hospital and School of Nursing. Upon graduation she took a job at the VA Hospital in Muskogee. She liked to remind everyone that she was a nurse before penicillin! One of the boys back from The War was a handsome sailor from Tushka, OK, Ed Butler, who she dated on the sly and eventually married. Ed and Clara were married on June 23, 1949 and moved to Oklahoma City. Early on they had a daughter, Maude Jeannine, who died in infancy. They purchased the home she still lived in just after Becky was born and Cindy came two years later. Together Ed and Clara built a full life and became co-owners of several pharmacies, Irby Drug and Mayfair Pharmacy 1, 2, and 3. After Ed passed in 1993, Clara immersed herself in being a full time grandma to Jake, Matthew, Zack, Hannah, Micah, Joe, and Nathan. She traveled to Perry, China, and Iowa City to love on grandkids and attend church programs, school and sporting events, and cattle shows. Clara prayed for husbands for her girls and loved Randy and Scott like they were her own. Clara attended and volunteered at her beloved church, Mayfair Heights. She taught the 3yr. old Sunday School class, held almost every office in the Mayfair United Methodist Womens group, and led Vacation Bible School. She was a trained Stephens Minister and continued to serve shut-ins through visits and phone calls until her passing. She ministered to others through food, cards, and prayers. Skyline Ministries was close to her and Eds hearts and recently she donated her time and cooking skills to "the Boys" at Carolyn Williams Center, a home for young men aging out of foster care. Clara will be greatly missed for her sense of humor and fantastic stories. She loved studying the Bible, prayed faithfully and was an avid listener of Christian radio. People often described our precious Clara as spunky, faithful, a prayer warrior, generous servant, but to her family she was simply "Grandma." Clara is survived by daughters, Becky Kelsay and husband Scott, Cindy Rupp and husband Randy; 7 grandchildren; brother, Rod LaReau and wife Pat; nephews, Jeff LaReau and wife Susan, Pierre LaReau; and cousin, Kathy VanNess. Celebration of Life Friday, January 20, 2017 10:30 AM Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church 3131 N.W. 50th St. Oklahoma City, OK