Clara Mae Anthis Royster Ryan was born in Cushing March 17, 1930 to Hubert and Martha Greenwood Anthis. Clara arrived much earlier than expected and with loving care survived to grow up during both the Depression and World War II.
During high school Clara worked at the Cushing Drug Store soda fountain. Ivan met Clara there, and they were united in marriage April 1, 1948. They made their home in Arkansas City following Clara’s high school graduation. They were members of Ark City Missionary Baptist Church. Ivan worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and Clara was active in the Women’s Lodge. She rose to serve as President of the Lodge.
Clara had a generous heart and often shared desserts and leftovers with friends and neighbors. Clara was a home room mother, taught VBS, and frequently invited friends to Thursday Afternoon Women’s Bible Study.
In 1974 the family returned to Cushing. Clara joined Sunnyside Extension group and learned to can green beans and peaches. She kept Ivan busy helping her try to get the jars packed just right in hopes of placing at the Fair. She won several awards at Fairs for her pies.
An active member of First Baptist Church, Cushing, Clara served in many ways. For many years she served on the funeral dinner committee, and worked in the nursery.
Clara supported the CHS Alumni Association and helped plan her 50th reunion. Clara and Ivan especially enjoyed travelling with Ivan’s brothers and their wives. They took several trips to attend the fun Royster Family Reunions with the Oklahoma, Nevada, and California Roysters.
After Ivan’s death, Clara and her friend Colleen enjoyed morning coffee at McDonalds. When Clara met Fred Ryan there, romance grew. Fred and Clara married October 3, 2004. A loving wife, Clara joined Fred to worship at his church. Clara and Fred enjoyed several trips to Colorado to fish with family and she spent many happy hours talking about those adventures.
Clara was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Martha, husband Ivan Pearl Royster, Jr., husband Fred Ryan, brother James Anthis, sister Lorene Anthis Smith Wilkinson, daughter Laura Elizabeth Royster Curtis Longan, and son in law Donald Crawford, Scott Ryan, and Kathleen Ryan Davis.
Clara is survived by daughter Suzanne Carol Crawford, her children Martha Mae, and Ivan Daniel and wife Beth, grandson Robert Aaron Curtis and wife Melony, and daughter Peggy Cook, her husband Robert, and children Nathaniel and Matthew, her Ryan step-children and their families: son David and wife Sharon, son-in-law Tim Davis (Kathleen) daughter Debbie and husband Gary Franklin, daughter Anita and husband David Elliott, their children, and many other beloved family members.
