District superintendent's wife Clara Pellett remembered

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Phoenix, Arizona

Clara Dell Pallett, 100, passed away on Tuesday, July 17, in Phoenix, Arizona. She was the widow of former Church of the Nazarene district superintendent Murray James Pallett. 

She was born in Wayland, Michigan, on July 19, 1911, to Horace Elmer Dell and Liva Susanne Nogle. Clara graduated valedictorian from Wayland High School in June of 1929 at the age of 17. Three years later, she married her high school sweetheart, Murray James Pallett, on December 24, 1932, in Van Nuys, California. Murray was a student at Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University), and they lived in Pasadena, California, while Murray finished his ministerial training.

In 1934, the couple moved to Glassel Park, California, to begin their pastoral ministry in the Church of the Nazarene. Clara was the parsonage hostess for more than 50 years in churches in California, Montana, and Washington. He served as district superintendent on the Nevada-Utah and Copenhagen, Denmark, districts.

After retirement in 1976, Clara and Murray lived in Centralia, Washington. In 1990, they moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Murray passed away in 1994 and Clara moved to Arizona to be with her daughter, Faith, in 2002.

Clara is survived by three daughters: Faith Arlene Wheeler of Anthem, Arizona; Muriel Jean Singer of Klamath Falls, Oregon; and Bettie (Cotton) Pallett of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is also survived by five grandchildren: David Earl Wheeler, Bryan James Wheeler, Mark Jeffrey Wheeler, Murray James Bickel, and Donald Craig Bickel; 12 great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Helen (Jessie) Lane of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and Mae Dell Shaw of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Clara was active in supporting her husband in pastoral ministry. She served as missionary president, Sunday School teacher, counselor, and confidant. She was an avid reader and enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She and Murray loved to travel, and they toured many places throughout the world.

Interment will be held July 27 at the Shrine of Remembrance in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she will be buried beside Murray.
--NCN News submissions

 

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