Clara Gladys Kirkland

Clara was born in Washington state to Milton and Iva Cooper in 1924. Shortly after her arrival the family moved back to High River, Alberta, Canada where she lived with her older sister, Marie and younger brother, Bill and her parents until she married. As a child in the fall, she loved to run home after school to get an apple out of the cellar. In the winter as soon as the river froze over, all the kids rushed home to grab their ice skates and to hit the ice until dinner time. She was a good skater and even became the goalie for her high school hockey team.

In her late teens she started working at the local Royal Canadian Air Force Base Cafe, where she happened to meet a handsome American pilot, Oscar Hanson. They were married after a whirlwind romance in 1942, when Clara was 18. Oscar even snuck her onto a Tiger Moth plane for a ride above High River once! She just strapped on a parachute and jumped aboard. She LOVED every minute of the flight and never stopped enjoying traveling around the world! In fact, she said she had wanted to be a pilot. Clara and Oscar had three wonderful boys, Gerald, Eric and Dwight. Unfortunately, Oscar's B-17 was shot down, and he was killed over Germany during WWII in 1944. He never had a chance to meet Dwight as he was born two days after Oscar's passing. After Oscar's passing, Clara decided to move back to her family in High River from Texas where Oscar and their family were stationed.

After the war, she was reacquainted with a childhood friend, Norman Kirkland. Norm and Clara married in 1946 in Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada. Norm and Clara also had three sons, Wayne, Terry and Rex. They eventually moved to California for work opportunities. They lived in California for years raising their three boys, but something was always missing in Clara's heart. In the early 1990's her heart was full again as she was reunited with Jerry, Eric and Dwight, who were raised by Oscar's family. Oh, how the whole family was thrilled to be together! Clara was finally able to get some girls in the family with the birth of her granddaughters, Caroline, Bonnie, Megan, and Mikaela. She was also blessed with grandsons, Aaron, Joshua and Logan. As well as some amazing daughters-in-law.

Clara is survived by her six sons Jerry (Maureen), Eric (Marilyn), Dwight (Fadia), Wayne, Terry (Cyndi) and Rex, her seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren and countless other family and friends.

She is proceeded in death by her parents Milton and Iva Cooper, her husbands Oscar Hanson and Norman Kirkland, her sister Marie Baker, her brother William Cooper, daughter in laws, Sheryl Kirkland and Paula Kirkland.

The family would like to thank Rolling Meadows and The Gables and Hospice of Wichita Falls for the care and love they gave to Clara! She loved you all.

Clara will be missed more than words can say, but we have comfort in knowing she was a baptized believer, and we will see her again, if we believe in Jesus and follow His ways! A celebration of Clara's life will be in January 2026.

Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. John 14:6