Clara Lucille (Burk) Graves, 87

Clara Lucille (Burk) Graves, 87, of Eureka, passed away Tuesday, May 18, 2010. She was born to Gilbert and Lena Jane Talbot Burk on April 19, 1923, in Kalispell. Clara grew up during the Great Depression and attended school during her early years in Olney. She started working at an early age. She met Frank while cooking at a logging camp and they married in 1940. To their union was born a son, Jack, and two daughters, Carol and Jan. She enjoyed working in the family Christmas-tree business for many years, bookkeeping for Graves Logging, and as camp cook at the logging operation on Drop Creek. Clara was a great cook. People still comment on the many good things she made, including her maple bars and cinnamon rolls. She loved the outdoors and was a successful hunter many times, including shooting an elk with a .22. She could be found any season on the lake; out on her pontoon boat in the summer or out on the ice in the winter. Her family and friends looked forward to the fish she caught and later smoked. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have many happy memories of times spent with their grandmother fishing, hunting, playing at the lake, and learning to make pies, holiday cookies and candies. Grandma was an avid card player and she enjoyed nothing more than beating her adult grandchildren in a spirited game of Shang Hi. Her last year was spent at Mountain View Manor where she was treated with much love and respect. Her family will be forever grateful. Clara was preceded in death by husband, Frank, in 1987; brothers, Albert Burk, James Burk, Ted Burk, Louis Burk, Bill Burk and Bobby Burk; and special friend, Bill Murray. She is survived by her son, Jack Graves, and Gail, of Polson; daughters, Carol Workman and Jack of Eureka, and Jan Corneliuson and Roy of Eureka. Clara is also survived by brother, GI Burk, of Olney; sisters, Mona Hanson and Harvey of Whitefish, and Betty Overby of Libby; brother-in-law, Bernie Enger, of Libby; sisters-in-law, Karen Burk of Helena, Norma Burk of Olney, and Vera Burk of Whitefish; grandchildren, Ken Workman of Kalispell, Val Taylor of Salt Lake City, AnnMarie Newell of Eureka, Michelle Bohn of Eureka, RaeCille Chambers of Stevensville, Frank Graves of Colorado Springs, Colo., Amy Greene of Eureka, Joel Graves of Eureka, and Marcie Motichka of Polson; and 20 great-grandchildren. A service was held on May 21 at the First Baptist Church in Eureka. The family suggests donations be made to the Mountain View Manor.