Daughter of Ephraim Knowlton Hanks and Thisbe Quilley Read.

Married - Robert Kitley, 9 March 1905, Colusa, California
Children - Arthur Robert Kitley, Henry Ray Kitley, Read Hanks Kitley, Claude Ephraim Kitley.

Married - Hyrum Emmons Church, 2 October 1915, Pioche, Lincoln, Nevada.
Children - Beth Church, Bessie Church, Sidney Alva Church.

Married LeRoy Frederick Saunders, 28 March 1936, Jerome, Idaho.
Children - None.

Married - Howard Bodenhamer, 15 April 1953, Elko, Elko, Nevada.
Children - None.

History - Clara Ellen Hanks was born at Floral Ranch, Wayne Co., Utah, on 9 August 1888. She was the 12th child of Thisbe and Ephraim. Many people say she looked like her mother. She also inherited many of her fine qualities - very neat in her appearance, precise in everything she does and has a happy disposition.

Clara's father, Ephraim, built a good house of sawed lumber on the ranch and it was completed just before she was born. Two fireplaces were built in to help keep it warm. One fireplace was in the room where her father kept his books and gave members of the L.D.S. Church their patriarchal blessings, since this was the office he held. Her father died when she was nearly eight years old. In the wintertime they lived in Caineville so they could attend school and enjoy community activities.

After her mother's death, 23 July 1903, Clara went to live with her sister Nettie, and Henry Giles, who were living in California. There she met Robert Kitley. They were married on 9 March 1905 in Colusa, California. Their first son, Arthur Robert, was born at Princeton near there. Shortly after that they came back to Wayne Co., Utah, and lived at Thurber where their two sons, Henry and Read were born. Read lived only six months and is buried at Bicknell. They returned to Princeton, Colusa, California, where their fourth child, Claud Ephraim Kitley was born 2 February 1912. Arthur was killed in Salt Lake while crossing a street after a mutual party. He is buried in Salt Lake City. Henry died the 12th of April 1933. Claud married Thora Pickett on 26 April 1936. They have two boys Trent and Steven. The past year, 1959, they built a new home in Burley where they have lived for several years.

Later, Clara married Ephraim Hyrum Church [sic]. They had twin girls Beth and Bessie. They were born in Beaver, Utah. They had pretty blonde hair and were cute as could be. Their son, Sidney Alva Church, was born in Salt Lake City. Beth married Howard Lauren Schwab of Eden, Jerome Co., Idaho They had a son, Richard, born 9 January 1936. He died at birth. Then Beth died on 21 January 1936. She is buried near her baby in Twin Falls, Idaho. Bessie married James Howard Boden of Twin Falls, Idaho. They live in Burley, Idaho and are the parents of seven children. Sidney is married and lives in Nevada. Ephraim Hyrum Church died in 1933, Bakersfield, California [sic].

Later Clara married Howard Bodenhamer and they live in Burley, Idaho. They built a big new home about 1956, on a small acreage just south of town. On it they have a beautiful flower and vegetable garden, a pasture for their thoroughbred sheep, chickens for eggs and meat.

Clara cans and freezes food from their garden, and they have a busy time. She is an artistic cook and people enjoy their hospitality. - Teton Hanks Jackman

Researcher Note: In 1930 she was employed as a servant in the household of Roy Saunders. Three children from her marriage to Hyrum Church were also living in the household. She married Roy in 1936 in Jerome Co., Idaho. Apparently, they lived together until 1953 when Roy died in Hazelton, Idaho.