Clara Stratton Hart

May 13, 1933-July 31, 2022

On Sunday, July 31, 2022, Clara Stratton Hart was joyously reunited with her family in heaven.  She was born on May 13, 1933, to Thomas and Leona Morrill Stratton at the family home in Hurricane – only weighing 2 pounds.  

When Clara was 8, her mother Leona and her baby sister passed away. This was a sad time for them all, but Clara’s relationship with her dad and brothers – Thell, Arden and Marlow became even closer as they had to depend on each other.  Her favorite memory as a little girl was coming home to a warm house filled with the smell of hot bread and cinnamon rolls … and the love of her mother. 

When Clara was 12 her dad married Fern Slack Jackson and after the death of Fern’s daughter, Carol they adopted her children Mary, Cheryl, Gerald and Becky. She enjoyed the relationships she had with them.

Clara loved growing up in Hurricane and had many friends. In high school she was chosen to be “Sweetheart” of the Sweetheart’s Ball and enjoyed being editor for the school newspaper “The Hurricana”.  

In summer 1950 Clara went to a dance near Anderson Junction and caught the eye of Trusten Hart, who was on leave from the Navy. He recalls having the feeling that he would marry her someday. On Nov.  24, 1951, they were married and loaded up their belongings and headed off to Providence, Rhode Island, where Trusten served in the Navy.

They had many fun adventures there, but Clara was homesick, so after his five-year enlistment was up they returned to the “Hart Ranch” in New Castle.  This is where they raised their family of five girls … Valerie, Brenda, Alison (deceased), Juli  and Terri and eventually started their business Hart’s Service.  They spent 36 memorable years in New Castle where Clara served in many positions in her church and community.  

In January 1999 Clara and Trusten were called to serve a mission at the Atlanta Georgia Temple.  They had many great experiences, met wonderful people and thoroughly enjoyed their time there. After their return, Clara spent her time working on family history, enjoying summers at their cabin, and attending any function her grandchildren might be in.  

If there was one word to describe Clara it would be service. She was always doing something for someone …  especially her husband, daughters and their families. We and many others will miss her dearly.

She is survived by her husband Trusten, daughters Valerie Marsh, Brenda Chambers, Julie Graham, Terri (Byron) Linford, brothers Arden (Allene) Stratton, Gerald (Yvette) Stratton, and sisters Mary (Max) Covington, Cheryl Pulliam, and Becky (Mike) Wheeler and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her dad Tom, mother Leona, step-mother Fern, brothers Thell and Marlow, sister Leona, daughter Alison, son-in-law Doug  Chambers and granddaughter MaKenzie Pierucci.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 9,  9-11 a.m. at the Red Cliffs Third Ward building,1285 N Bluff Street St. George, Utah.  Funeral services to follow at 11:30 a.m.  Burial will be at the New Castle Cemetery.

Family and friends are invited to click here to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.

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