Clara Finlinson (1914-1982)

Clara was born on May 27, 1914, in Oak City, Utah, in the old adobe home of her grandparents, George and Susan Finlinson. She was the fourth of eight children of Leo and Lydia Lyman Finlinson. Clara was named after her mother's sister, Clara Lyman, who died of diptheria at the age of 8.

As a child, Clara was noted for her great love of books since she spent most of her spare time reading. One summer, Clara made a hide-away in the gooseberry patch near the family home so she could escape and read. Her sisters still jokingly accuse her of trying to avoid the family chores by hiding with her books in the gooseberry patch.

At the age of 13, Clara began to assist her mother by clerking in the family store. Clara clerked throughout her teenage years and learned much about management of a small business.

Clara attended Delta High School which was located about 15 miles from Oak City. Between the bad roads and the old bus, Clara and the other students from Oak City spent much of their commuting time pushing the bus, or so it seemed to them. Clara was an "A" student and well liked by her classmates and teachers. Clara was an excellent typist and stenographer and participated on the High School"s typing team. During her high school years, Clara worked in the school office and in the book store.

Clara was very musical and played both the piano and the saxophone as well as participating in the Oak City Ward Choir. She also participated in the Delta High School Band.

The year Clara was to graduate from high school, the spring of 1932, due to the Depression, the banks and the schools had to close six weeks early due to lack of funds. As a result, Clara's graduating class never had graduation ceremonies. In fact, Clara received her diploma the following December when a friend of hers brought it to her during Christmas vacation.

In the fall of 1932, Clara moved to Salt Lake City to attend the L.D.S. Business College. While in Salt Lake, she lived with Aunt Fanny and Uncle Waldo Lyman. After graduation, she obtained a job in Fillmore with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Later, she worked as the Deputy Treasurer in the Millard County School District for three years. While working in Fillmore, Clara took one semester off to attend business courses at Utah State where she lived with her sisters Isobel and Julia and her brother Lyman.

While working in Fillmore, Clara met her husband, Joe W. Atkin, who was a student at Utah State University. They were married on June 20, 1041 in the Finlinson home in Oak City. Later, they were sealed in the Manti Temple on June 7, 1944.

Joe and Clara first lived in Logan a few months after their marriage and then moved to Richfield, Utah, where they were living when their first child Jane was born on December 6, 1942. While living in Richfield, Joe was assigned to California to assist in the evacuation of the Japanese-Americans when the war broke out.

On October 9, 1943, Joe was called into the Navy and Clara and Jane moved back to Oak City. After the War, they moved to Spanish Fork where they lived while Joe worked in Price and commuted home on the weekends. Their second daughter, Clara Joe, was born on October 5, 1946, while they were living in Spanish Fork.

In 1947, Joe and Clara moved to Cedar City, Utah. Their third child, William was born in Cedar City on March 13, 1949. While in Cedar City, Joe was called to serve in the Navy again during the Korean War for a period of 18 months. When Joe's ship would dock on the West Coast, Clara and her little family would take the opportunity to go to the port to visit with him. Their fourth child, Jill, was also born in Cedar City on October 9, 1954.

In November of 1956, Joe accepted a new assignment with the Farmers' Home Administration in Phoenix, Arizona and the family moved to Arizona. Three years later, Joe accepted a position with the First National Bank of Arizona and the family moved to Wellton, Arizona. In 1962, the bank transferred Joe to the Prescott, Arizona office and Clara and Joe have been in Prescott since that time. Joe is presently a Vice President of the First Interstate Bank of Arizona (formerly the First National Bank of Arizona) and is the Manager of the downtown Prescott Branch.

Clara has always been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In her ward in Oak City, Clara sang in the Ward Choir and in Singing Mothers. She also served as the Relief Society and Sunday School Chorister and taught the Junior Girls in M.I.A. While living in Oak City, Clara also served as the Stake Chorister of the Primary. In Cedar City, Clara served as a counselor in the Sixth Ward M.I.A., as the Chorister in Junior Sunday School and Primary and as the Organist for the Relief Society. In the Fourteenth Ward, East Stake, Phoenix, Arizona, Clara served as the chorister in the Primary, M.I.A., and Junior Sunday School.

In Wellton, Clara served as the Ward Organist and assisted with the Singing Mothers. In Prescott, Clara served for two years as the first President of the Relief Society in the Prescott First Ward. Later, when the Prescott, Arizona Stake was organized, Clara served as the first Stake Relief Society President. In such a capacity, Clara had to travel as much as 130 miles from home to make her stake visits.

In the George and Susan Finlinson Family Organization, Clara's name is synonymous with genealogy. Clara served as the Family's Genealogical Representative from 1958-1979. During such time, the Family collected thousands of dollars which was utilized in researching the Family's ancestors.

In her family, Clara is also noted for the beautiful handiwork she has produced. Samples of Clara's needlepoints, crocheting and knitting can be found in the homes of all of her children, her brothers and sisters and in many of the homes of her nephews and nieces. Many family Christmas trees enjoy handmade ornaments produced by Clara.

Testimony of Clara F. Atkin

March 12, 1982

I have had a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ since I was a little child. We were taught in our home to pray and to know that our Father in Heaven lived and would hear and answer our prayers. I never doubted but what this were true. I have received much comfort in my life through prayer.

Over the years my testimony has been strengthened through my callings in the church and the activity I have enjoyed in doing genealogy and learning of my ancestors.

Many prayers have been answered in my behalf and much faith has been exhibited during a serious illness I had recently. Through all of this I was given strength to carry on and to become well.

I believe in the atonement, I know that Jesus Christ gave His life that we might live forever and be saved in His Kingdom, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

I know Joseph Smith was a true and living Prophet today, President Spencer W. Kimball, who leads and directs our church, through revelation from God, our Eternal Father.

I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Clara F. Atkin

SOURCE
The Edward Leo Lyman & Mary Maranda Callister Lyman Family, 1984, pages 181-183