Clarice Mae Whitaker, formerly of Dixon, was born May 22, 1924 in Iberia, a daughter of the late Arthur and Lucy (Bacon) Jones. She lived in Dixon for many years but moved to Columbia in 2017 and resided there until she went home to be with her Lord on November 19, 2020.

Clarice married Archie Whitaker on May 23 ^rd , 1942, (shortly after she graduated from Iberia High School) and to this marriage three children were born. Chee, Cindy and Carrie all survive. Also, six wonderful grandchildren and seven special great-grandchildren have brought joy & delight to Clarice. An eighth great-grandchild, Faith Michele Hammer welcomed Clarice to her heavenly home.

Archie and Clarice lived near Brays until Archie went to serve in the Army at Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. While they lived there, Clarice worked as a cashier at a laundromat. They later moved to California and Clarice worked in a plant cutting fruit. They returned to Missouri in December of 1947 and Clarice worked as a teacher in a one-room school. When they moved to Columbia in 1951 for Archie to attend MU, Clarice worked fulltime in the Registrar's office as a cashier. Her math skills served her well throughout her life.  After Archie received his Agriculture Degree in 1953, they moved to Dixon where he taught, and Clarice worked as a homemaker and substitute teacher. For a period of time, Clarice worked at the Dixon Head Start. She also assisted Archie in the insurance business for a number of years.

The skill that Clarice's family will most remember her for were the delicious meals she always prepared for them. Her homemade desserts were a welcome and expected sight at any family gathering. In fact, while Archie and Clarice were living in Columbia from July 2012 to April 2013, Clarice won an award for the best dessert (her lemon Schaum Torte) at the Lenoir Retirement Community.

Clarice and her siblings were raised by Christian parents and she learned the value of faith and having a personal belief in Jesus Christ. She was baptized at a young age. For many years, Clarice was a member of the First Christian Church where she was active in CWF and Sunday school. Later she became a member of Burnett Christian Church where many of her family members were involved. She enjoyed contributing to many church dinners there also. Clarice will be remembered for her keen sense of humor. After she returned to the Lenoir Community in Columbia in 2017, several would affectionately call her ornery. Many of the staff enjoyed her humor and feistiness.

Clarice was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister and friend to many. She is survived by one son, Charles Chee and wife Jane of Dixon; two daughters, Cindy Whitaker of Columbia and Carrie Kooman and husband Stan of St. Charles; six grandchildren, Talia Hammer, Benton Kooman, Hannah Hartman, Corey Kooman, Megann Whitaker and Mattie Weider and seven great-grandchildren: Kaiden, Charlie, Caroline, Brynn, Brooke, Wilder and Kinzley.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Burnett Christian Church, Box H, Dixon, MO 65459 or Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss, nationalshare.org.

Graveside services will be held at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 in the Dixon Cemetery under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Dixon.