Clare Ellen Stufflebeme

Clare Ellen Dooley Stufflebeme, age 69 of Trenton, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to many.
She was born Clare Ellen Dooley on Sept. 28, 1945, in Hartford, Conn., the daughter of James Edward and Lillian Dooley. At the age of 11, the family moved to Grand Prairie, Tx., where she graduated from high school in 1963, and then attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. In 1964, she met Bill Stufflebeme on a blind date, and the rest was history. The couple married on June 26, 1965.
From that point on, Clare devoted her life to building her life and home with Bill. The couple first resided in Grand Prairie, and then moved to Garland. From 1967-1981, they added four children - Rebecca, Mary, Matthew and Erin - and then moved to Trenton so they could raise their family in a small town. During her child-rearing years, she spent countless hours volunteering where needed for various kids activities, school organizations and church events, only working for pay outside of the home a couple of times for short periods. She was a true matriarch to her family - always organizing the kids event schedules on a color-coded chart, cooking big family dinners with recipes from scratch, and becoming advice-giver as the her children grew into adults, whether the "kids" wanted to hear it or not.
Traditional family celebrations were her specialty for the kids and grandkids - from "money hunts" at Easter, to Christmas breakfast on Christmas Day, to Thanksgiving lunch, and "Survivor Nights" where the family gathered to eat and watch the popular television show together. She had a home remedy for any predicament, and would always give her honest opinion. She was a self-taught master seamstress, often making costumes or dresses for Halloween, weddings or other special occasions. She was frugal, so did not believe in spending money on something she could make herself. She also enjoyed crocheting and watching Murder, She Wrote and The Hallmark Channel. Clare was a longtime faithful member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Bonham.
In February 2010, Clare was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite a grim stage 4 diagnosis, she fought a long, courageous battle for over four years before passing away at her home last Saturday evening.
Her survivors include her husband of 49 years, Bill Stufflebeme of Trenton; their children - daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Brett Cory of McKinney; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Tim Hancock of Leonard; son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Elisha Stufflebeme of Trenton; and daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Tim Kirby of Trenton; brother and sister-in-law, Ed and Gaye Dooley of Millington, Tenn.; brother, Robert Dooley of Grand Prairie; 11 grandchildren - Derek Cory and wife, Andrea, of McKinney, Dylan and Autumn Cory of McKinney, Cody Hancock and wife, Holly, of Leonard, Travis and Ethan Hancock of Leonard, Abigail and Jake Stufflebeme of Trenton, and Scott, Katelyn and Lucas Kirby of Trenton; and 1 great-granddaughter, Brooke Hancock of Leonard.
Rosary will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m., followed by family visitation from 6:30-8 p.m., both at Wise Funeral Home in Bonham. Funeral mass will be Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Bonham with Father Arturo Molina officiating. Burial will follow at Burns Cemetery in Trenton with her eight grandsons serving as pallbearers.
Donations in her honor may be made to St. Jude's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Wise Funeral Home of Bonham is in charge of arrangements.