Clara Parks Sims, age 100, passed from this earth and slipped into the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ on January 31, 2013. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Phil; her parents, Carl and Mary Parks; her aunt and uncle, Grover and Clara Gilliam, who raised her; two brothers, Cecil and Fred Parks, and one great grandson, Chad. She is survived by two daughters, Margaret Ann Zimmerman (Richard) and Phyllis Hooten (Bill); a sister, Mary Ann Bacon (Malcolm); four grandchildren, Rick (Jo) Zimmerman, Phil (Tina) Zimmerman, Jeff Hooten, Kay (Dan) Ostrom; seven great-grandchildren: Brock Zimmerman (Jen), Melissa (William) Moody, Nathan (Pricilla) Campbell, Jefferson and McKenzie Hooten and Andy and Noah Ostom, and three great-great grandchildren, Madison and JoAnna Moody and Gracie Campbell.
Through the years, Clara was an active participant in her community, the school, and the church. She was a former Girl Scout leader, President of the Carlisle Progressive Club, member of the Chamber of Commerce, and Bible Study leader. In addition to serving as president of the PTA and band parents, she was among a group of mothers who started the School Hot Lunch Program in 1943.
Her strongest witness was through her church work. She taught Sunday School until she was 95 and led the Intercessory Prayer Group until she turned 98. She served on a myriad of committees and was presented with the Methodist Denman Evangelism Award in 2004.
A former pastor said of her, "She is the strongest witness to the Christian faith I have ever met. Her love of God and her neighbors shines forth in her desire for everyone to have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. She reaches people of all ages and is a mentor for our littlest child to our oldest member."Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Monday, February 4, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church in Carlisle. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M., prior to the service. Interment will be in the Hazen Cemetery.