Clara Juanita Straight, 106, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Saturday, June 27, 2026 at her home under Hospice Compasses care.

Born August 28, 1919 in Worley, Idaho, Clara was the daughter of Asa Edgar and Lovie Jane (Clifford) Straight.

At the age of six weeks old, she moved with her parents, brother John and sister Ruth to the farm near Yarrow, Missouri.

The middle child of five, she was preceded in death by John (Agnes), Ruth (Thom Hibbs) Paul, and Walter (Waunittia) Straight.

Clara is survived by her nieces and nephews, Mark Straight, Eric Straight, Michael Hibbs, Stephen Hibbs, Anne Hibbs, Paul Hibbs, and Henry Hibbs; great niece, Elizabeth Straight; and great-great niece Grace.

Clara was a member of the Presbyterian Church. She graduated from the Yarrow country school, Gifford and Kirksville High Schools, Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, and obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Colorado. She spent forty-three years teaching art - four years at Moberly Jr. High School and Jr. College, three years at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and thirty-six years at Cornell University, Sthara, N.Y., retiring as Prof. Emeritus.

Clara painted throughout her entire life. Her work has been exhibited in New York City, Albany and Utica, N.Y., Kansas City, Denver, Arizona, and Massachusetts. Her paintings are in many private collections across the U.S. and in foreign countries.

During her tenure at Cornell she spent sabbaticals traveling and studying in many interesting places, including Birkely and Claremont, California, Cranbrook Academy, MIT, Australia, Europe and Mexico.

Clara's heart was never far from home - summers and every Christmas of her life was spent on the farm at Yarrow. When she retired she announced that she was going back home to start her second childhood and that is just what she did with great joy.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Monday, July 6, 2026 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Pastor Alan Coonfield presiding. Burial will follow in the Yarrow Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. the day of the service in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home.

Memorial donation in honor of Clara may be made to the Yarrow Cemetery. Donation may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.