Clara B Bush

On Monday, March 9, 2026, Clara Bush was reunited with the love of her life and entered eternal peace.

Clara was born on April 17, 1934, in Bay Minette, Alabama, to her parents, Evelyn and JW Donald. She grew up in Bay Minette, where she worked alongside her brothers and sisters on the family farm. Her early life there helped shape the hardworking, generous woman she would become.

On October 6, 1951, she married Chalmers "Jim" Bush and proudly embraced the life of an Air Force wife. Together they traveled and lived on numerous Air Force bases across the United States before eventually settling in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, in 1968.

Clara was a shining light to all who knew her. Her smile was infectious and her laughter even more so. She had a special love for growing flowers and plants of every kind. She found great joy not only in growing them, but in giving them away to others. If anyone tried to thank her for a plant, she would quickly stop them, saying that if they said thank you, "it will die." Her warmth, humor, and kindness touched many lives.

Clara is survived by her four children: Kat Palmer; Dale Bush (Sandi); Joyce Palacios (Luis); and Darlene Bush; as well as her honorary daughter, Kristy Brooks (Don). She is also survived by six grandchildren: Jamie Lemley (Krystal), Trina Bradshaw (Kevin), Tonya Ranger (Jason), Andrea Davies (Trey), Katie Bush, and Jason Dodd (Mandy) twenty-one great-grandchildren and numerous great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Thomas Donald and sisters Louise Powell and Irene Toler.

A special thank you to Vitas Nurse Kendra Potter and Vitas Social Worker Morgan Howard for helping keep her home and comfortable for as long as possible. Your kindness and care was so appreciated.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Chalmers "Jim" Bush; her grandson, Jimmy Dodd; her brothers Melvin, Ed, Walter and Butch Donald sisters Dot Johnson and Virginia Cook.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at White House Fork Baptist Church, 38713 County Road 39, Bay Minette, Alabama 36507, with the funeral service to follow. Burial will immediately follow the service.