Clara May Sterley

Clara May Sterley peacefully passed into the arms of the Lord July 31 in Bellingham WA. Clara was born to Prosper and Florence Schutter in Alma Kansas on January 11, 1934. She was one of nine children. The family moved to Spokane Washington, and later settled in Brewster Washington. She attended school in Brewster and was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was an avid horsewoman with the Brewster Bridle Club and barrel raced in local rodeos. She married Ron Morris, of Brewster November 25, 1953. They purchased 15 acres of sagebrush along the Columbia River, downstream from Bridgeport and started an apple orchard. They had three children Jed, Sherrie and Ted, who attended Bridgeport schools. She was a resourceful farm woman who always had a large, productive garden and farm animals. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed family dinners and passed on her love of cooking to her three children. She married Stan Sterley in 1973 and together they operated the orchard for 22 more years until selling it in 1995. She was a sight to see on her Honda 90 supervising the picking crew during apple harvest. Stan and Clara enjoyed golfing at Lake Woods golf course, their family reunions, and traveling to Arizona during the winter. They also traveled to far the East, Europe and New Zealand. Stan and Clara moved to Lynden, Washington in 2015. She was proceeded in death by Stan and is survived by her two brothers Leo and Kenneth, her three children, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was a wonderful, caring, sister, wife, and mother. We will always miss her laughter and loving heart. There will be a viewing at 11:00am on August 15, 2025 at Barnes Chapel, 510 West Indian Avenue, Brewster, WA 98812 with graveside service following at 12:00pm at Locust Grove Cemetery, Brewster, WA. Refreshments to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to your local hospice organization are appreciated.