Clara Lee (Boxx) Brake was born January 2, 1938, in Lesterville, MO to Andrew and Gladys (Jordan) Boxx. Clara passed away on January 7, 2025, in Springfield, MO at the age of 87 years, 5 days.
Clara, always an advocate for education, received her bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and her master’s degree from Southwest Missouri State University.
Professionally, Clara was better known as Mrs. Brake by thousands of students who entered her classroom over nearly thirty years as a Math teacher at Liberty High School.
Teaching was Clara’s passion both in the classroom and personally, taking time to pass on her knowledge of the hobbies she loved including sewing, quilting, gardening, and baking. Clara grew up spending countless hours outside, where she developed a love for peace, solitude, and freedom that comes from nature. During summer vacations from teaching Clara enjoyed working in the yard, gardening, and even mowing. On a typical day, if the sun was up, you could find Clara outside, at the farm she loved, always working, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
While most knew Clara as Mrs. Brake her family including grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew her as their precious Nanny, whom they loved, respected, and admired.
Clara was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Brake; parents, Andrew and Gladys Boxx; two brothers, Vernon and Gordon Boxx; two sisters, Dorothy Moore, and Jean Boxx; two brothers-in-law, Jerry Jeffries and Leo Moore.
Clara is survived by one son, Troy Brake and wife Jacque of Springfield, MO; two grandsons, Dakota Brake and wife Teran of Springfield MO, and Dalton Brake; one granddaughter, Isabella Brake of Springfield MO; two sisters, Sidney Smith and husband Gerald of Barnhart, MO and Norma Jeffries of Barnhart MO, one brother-in-law, George Brake of Birch Tree, MO, and three sisters-in-law, Shirley Mills and husband Bill, of Canute, OK, Elaine Brake of Willow Springs, MO, and Judy Davis of Stroud, OK; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Birch Tree, Missouri, with Pastor Jeff Brake officiating, under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Birch Tree. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
