Born on August 28, 1938, in Scotia, Clara May Voigt was the fifth child of ten born to her parents Warren G. and Clara M. Voigt of Shively. She was the fourth girl of 7 in the family in addition to three brothers. Life in Shively in the 1940s and early fifties was rather dull. Clara, maybe more than any of her other siblings, was a girl of adventure. A city girl trapped in a country setting. How she loved the trips to Eureka on the train with her grandmother as a young child. The big city had so much to offer a young country girl. She would always behave her very best hoping to coax a nickel out of her favorite grandmother for some special “shopping” in Eureka. Come to think of it, shopping was always her favorite pastime to the very end.

Coming out of the Great Depression, life was very simple in her youth. Father Warren worked for the railroad and as was common in those days, her mother Clara was home with all the children. With nine mouths to feed (brother Willard died a few days after birth) the family did not have any extra money to meet the dreams young Clara visualized in her mind. She was always into fashion even as a young girl. Oh, how she longed to live in the big city and wear all those fancy clothes.

Little Shively had a two-room schoolhouse. Clara and her sisters would walk the railroad tracks to school and back each day. Summers were spent at the river playing with friends or maybe helping around the house. Winters in Shively were a problem. As the Eel River would rise, the summer bridge would wash out. This would require the kids from Shively to use a motorboat to cross the river at sometimes flood stage to get to high school each day and again to get home in the evening. Clara had a big problem with the boat thing. It could perhaps have been that she did not trust the boatmanship of her older brother Warren, but when Clara was only fourteen years old, she decided she would move in with her Aunt Carrie, who lived a few blocks from Fortuna High, and solve the fear of crossing that river all together.

Being on your own at fourteen, to come and go as you please, was not a great recipe for getting through high school without any hitches. Unfortunately, Clara found that out the hard way. In 1955, while working and not attending school, she happened to meet the man of her dreams. His name was Tom Demello, he was five years her senior and was driving a cattle truck for his brother Babe. Let’s just say” it was love at first sight.” It was not long before the two were inseparable. Tom was very encouraging to Clara to go back, graduate and get her diploma. The following school year she re-enrolled and was able to graduate that following June. Not having had the opportunity to do the same, Tom was very proud of her for sticking with it and walking across that stage. Tom and Clara were married in a very small ceremony in Sacramento in December of 1957.

Nine months later, in September of 1958, the young couple had their first child. A boy they would name Keith Glenn. In a little less than three years, in August of 1961, the family was complete with the birth of a daughter, Tamra Lynn. For the next eleven years the Demello family lived in a small house on Loop Road in Fortuna, CA. Most of those years Dad was working long hours, six days a week, driving a log truck and Mom was busy caring for us. She kept busy teaching Sunday School at the Presbyterian Church on Ross Hill Road, in addition to being a “Welcome Wagon” host to newcomers in the Fortuna area. In 1969, they started building their forever home on Nelson Lane in the foothills of Fortuna above Newburg Park. She lived there the rest of her life.

In the early 1970s, with both kids well into school, Mom decided to go back to work. She first took a job at Payless, then one at a small grocery store (Cannam’s) near Eureka High. It was there that she became a retail clerk and after a few other jobs eventually settled at Safeway in Fortuna. She was very proud to be part of the union and would remind us that our braces were possible because of the great health insurance they offered. She took her work very seriously and seemed to love her job. I’m sure many people remember her warm welcome and friendly smile at the “big red S.”

Unfortunately, tragedy struck our life on March 22, 1990 when dad unexpectedly passed away prior to a scheduled shoulder surgery. Mom’s world was rocked!! Only someone who has lost a spouse in such a sudden and unexpected way can really relate. Thank the Lord, Mom had grandchildren to love on and help take her away from the constant feeling of loss that takes hold of you during these times. She also had a great support network of friends and family to see her through the rough times. The next seven or so years were a new and different adventure for her. She spent time watching grandchildren, burying herself in work, even buying a few rentals and fixing them up. Never one to miss a good garage sale, her and her kid sister Sharon would often scour the telephone poles or newspapers hoping to not miss the next “big” one. Another individual who was very important to Mom in these trying times was her very good friend Hanalore Klinger. The two of them worked together at Safeway and would spend many hours away from work, walking, shopping or just having coffee. Their friendship was very strong. Perhaps Mom’s longest friendship, and someone very special in her life was Pat Munson. It is believed they had known each other for more than eighty years.

The late 1990s were an exciting time for Mom. Someone gave her a heads up about this cute guy giving dance lessons and who was doing an exhibition at Redwood Village in Fortuna. Living on her own for the past seven or so years must have given Mom extra courage. She marched right up to the instructor and introduced herself. Next thing you know she was receiving “Private Dance Lessons.” Howard (Kip) Wandler was his name, and he swept Mom right off her feet. The two were married in January of 2000. Mom and Kip loved to travel. She had not traveled much with Dad in their 32 years of marriage. She and Kip made up for lost time. They cruised to Alaska, around New Zealand, many times in the Caribbean, other trips by plane to Hawaii, Cancun, Canada and much of the United States. Mom and Kip were married for over 24 years. She felt like she had been blessed with two incredible husbands who were very different from one another yet shared a special love for her that many women are lucky to ever get.

Mom’s health had been an issue the past seven years. A severe sinus infection required brain surgery in September of 2017. She was 79 then but, by the way she looked and acted, you would have thought she was 15 years younger. The brain surgery significantly changed things. A series of additional health issues followed. Kip did his absolute best those final years to care for Mom in a most amazing way. She finally went to be with the Lord on August 20, 2024. At the time of her death, she was only eight days shy of her 86th birthday. In her last few months, she would reflect often on her life. She felt very blessed to have lived the life she had. She was thankful for two amazing husbands, two wonderful children, two caring stepdaughters and five grandchildren in addition to six step-grandchildren and finally in January of 2024 her very first great-granddaughter.

Mom had no idea how important she was to so many people. Those who knew her were always taken by her constant smile, positive attitude and unique way of making you feel so special. She was always quick with words of encouragement, remembering special details of your life or just a kind, warm touch on the arm when she was speaking with you. She was security to some, friendship for others, a shoulder to cry on, or a home to take shelter. There is no doubt she will be greatly missed.

Mom and Kip attended Hydesville Church for many years prior to her passing. She loved to garden, dance, travel and of course shop.

Clara May Demello Wandler was preceded in death by her parents Warren & Clara Voigt. Brothers Warren, Willard & John Voigt. Sisters Leotta McCrigler, Loretta Kalford, & Judy Kiesel. Her late husband Thomas Glenn Demello and her loving grandson Tyler Gilreath. She is survived by her remaining three sisters, Helen Zigan, Bonnie Swift and Sharon Johnson (Bill) in addition to her husband Howard (Kip) Wandler, children Tamra Demello, Keith Demello (Danette) and grandsons Alex Eddy, Shane Demello (Adrienne), Cole Demello (Valarie), Ryan Demello (Aryanna) and great grand-daughter Reese. In addition, Kip’s daughters Darcy Baber (Sean) and Denise Robinson (Joe), and step-grandchildren Erin and Adam Baber; Alex Furtado, and Cole, Evan & Jake Robinson.

A private graveside service will be held for family at Sunrise Cemetery on Newburg Road in Fortuna at 11 a.m. on Saturday October 26, 2024. All friends and family are invited to please join us for a celebration of life that same day from 1-4 p.m. at the Monday Club (610 Main Street) in Fortuna. In lieu of flowers please consider donations in Clara’s memory to Hospice of Humboldt. They were amazing help in Mom’s final days.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Clara’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.