Clara Lee Schexnayder

Clara Lee Schexnayder, 92, of Springfield, Ill., formerly of Sioux City, entered into rest on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at a Springfield Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. The family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m., with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m.
Clara Lee Schexnayder, also known to close friends and family as "Mother Dear," was born Aug. 29, 1922 in Parkdale Ark. Clara was the second oldest of six daughters born to the union of Samuel and Essie Lee (Dickinson) Wimberly. While still at home Clara learned exceptional cooking skills as she prepared meals for the family with her mother. Her reputation as an excellent cook followed her throughout her life as well as willingness to feed anyone who visited her home. Her legendary three-layer German chocolate cake and sweet potato pies remain unequalled. As if cooking wasn't enough, Mother Dear was an excellent seamstress and was always known for her sense of style.
As a young woman Clara moved to Sioux City. She enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage to Walter Schexnayder, who preceded her in death on March 15, 2005. Clara was blessed with four children, Delores Martin of Springfield, Ill., to whom she moved to be closer to in her later years, and Ronnie Murphy of Colorado. Clara was predeceased by daughters Laura Brown of Arizona and Mattie O'Neal of Colorado.
Although Clara moved far from home, she was eventually joined by her older sister, Lucy Mae (Fenceroy) Jones who still resides in Sioux City. Clara was a homemaker for many years, but after her children were older she worked at Sue Bee Honey. Throughout her life she showed compassion and interest in the plight of young working mothers and eventually began babysitting and fostering children during her retirement years.
She is survived by her dear sisters, Lucy Mae Jones of Sioux City, Ernestine Gardner of Peoria, Ill. and Anola Byers, Artelia Henry and Bonnie Pearl Dedrick, all of Pine Bluff, Ark.