Evelyn Kirby Clardy

Evelyn Marie Kirby Clardy, 92, of Lometa, died Tuesday afternoon, September 14, 2021, in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Viewing will be at 1:00 pm on Sunday, September 19, at the Lometa Church of Christ, immediately preceding the service at 2:00.  Afterward, there will be a graveside service at Senterfitt Cemetery near Lometa.  Sneed Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  Aubrey Rodgers, former preacher at the Lometa Church of Christ, will officiate.

Mrs. Clardy was born on August 6, 1929, near Lometa, Texas.  She was the daughter of J.C. "Pete" and Hattie Lee Everett Kirby.  Her grandparents were pioneer families of Lampasas County.  She was an outstanding student and athlete while attending school at Lometa.  After graduation, she attended Abilene Christian College from 1946 to 1948.  While on the tennis court at ACC, she met John Clardy, a returning WWII veteran from Brownwood; they were married on July 21, 1947.

After John graduated from the Boy Scouts of America National Traning School in Mendham, New Jersey, the Clardys served in Boy Scout councils headquartered in Roswell, New Mexico, Dallas (Kaufman), Galveston, Lubbock, Houston, and Waco.  John served on the National Boy Scout Council staff in Irving beginning in 1972.  During those years the Clardys went on camping adventures up the West and East coasts and frequently camped at the family ranch near Lometa.  When he retired on January 1, 1986, John and Evelyn retired to the home that they and their sons had begun constructing near Lometa in the 1970s.

Mrs. Clardy has been active in many community organizations including the American Red Cross (Home Nursing Care Instructor), the PTA, and the Lometa Garden Club.  For fourteen years, she was the President of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #116 in Lometa and implemented the scholarships for Lometa ISD girls to attend Texas Girls State.

Since 1986, Mr. and Mrs. Clardy were active in local historic preservation efforts.  As members of the Lampasas County Historical Commission, they were instrumental in the publication of the Lampasas County, Texas: Its History and Its People, in 1991.  During their long tenure as officers of the Senterfitt Cemetery Association, they guided the cemetery through several major improvements in its maintenance, records, and financial support; the construction of the entryway and pavilion; the publication of the Newsletter, map, and index; and the placement of the historical marker.

As an active member of the Texas Republican Party, Mrs. Clardy served as the Lubbock County chairman for Bill Clements' successful campaign for governor in 1978.  She was especially proud when her youngest son Travis was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2013.

She was a faithful member of the church of Christ since childhood, served as a preschool teacher, and was always active in church projects in the various congregations where they lived.  She served twelve years as a volunteer Cub Scout Trainer and Cub Scout Den Mother, and Boy Scout leader while her four sons all attained the Eagle Scout Rank.  For her outstanding service to the church and Scouting, she was recognized by the Members of Churches of Christ for Scouting (MCCS) with the Faithful Servant Award.

Survivors include three sons: Brad Clardy (Lubbock), Mark and wife, Sara (Crowley), and Travis and wife, Judy (Nacogdoches); two former daughters-in-law: Shannon Wallace Maxfeldt (San Antonio) and Desiree Clark Clardy (Abilene); one brother, Everett A. Kirby (Goldthwaite); ten grandchildren, Ryan Clardy, Jessica Brown and husband, Kyle, Erin Whitaker and husband, Aaron, Caleb Clardy, Olivia Tyler, Lance Clark and wife, Halee, Blake Clardy and wife, Leah, Gus Clardy and wife, Georgina, Luke Clardy, and John Clardy and wife, Milla; and fifteen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John; sons, Douglas De Clardy and Richard Lee "Dick" Clardy; grandson, Nathaniel Clardy; parents, J.C. and Hattie Lee Kirby, and sister, Mildred Ann Kirby Duncan.

Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

The family requests any memorial donations be made to Senterfitt Cemetery Association, 218 S. 6th St, Lometa, TX, 76853