Individual Details

Death

Pansy Dell Furr Clar Pansy passed away on Friday, April 25, 2014, at her home in San Rafael, California. She was 104 years old. Pansy was born December 7, 1909, to Arthur C. and Eva King Furr in Nola, Mississippi, in Lawrence County. Her father attended Mississippi College and became a Southern Baptist pastor who served in many churches throughout Mississippi and in Louisiana. As a young child, Pansy moved in 1911 with her family to Mashulaville, MS, in Noxubee County where her father assumed his first pastorate. Rev. Furr was paid by the church members primarily with food given to the family, so Pansy grew up in very humble circumstances. But in Pansy's words, her mother "never let them know or believe that they were poor". Her father later moved to Scooba to pastor a church there and the family lived in other locations such as Houlka, MS, Lake Arthur, LA, (where Pansy graduated from high school), and Louisville, MS. In her early adult life she learned to type and to take shorthand from her oldest sister's husband, Charles A. Barge, and became his secretary, both at D. L. Fair Lumber Company in Louisville, and at Charles' first personal venture in Durant. In 1932 while at the Winston County Fair, she met and was recruited by Mississippi Congressman Jeff Busby to come to Washington, D.C., and she later became the secretary for the office of Mississippi Senator Hubert D. Stephens. She later worked in the Department of Agriculture and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. While in Washington she met an architect for the U. S. Government named Clarence Clar who had come to Washington from San Francisco, CA. She and Clarence were married after a short courtship on December 13, 1935, in Washington at the home of friends. She followed her husband, Clarence, around on his assignments and the couple lived from 1942 to 1947 in Seattle, WA. While there they adopted their only child, Phillip, who was born in Laurel, MS. The family moved to San Francisco in 1947 and in 1950, across the bay to San Rafael where she spent the rest of her life. She was predeceased by her husband, Clarence Clar. Pansy was very talented and was an accomplished musician, photographer, painter, and golfer. She enjoyed life and was active even for her 100th birthday party. She served as church organist and pianist for many years for her church in San Rafael. She was committed to her Lord and lived her entire life as a witness for God's Kingdom, had a great influence on many people, and had many, many friends. She was predeceased by her father and mother, her husband, two sisters, Bonnie Furr Barge of Macon, MS, and Edna Furr Stacey of Aliceville, AL, and one brother, Carl Furr of Eutaw, AL, and Columbus, MS. She is survived by her son Phillip Edward Clar (Roberta), grandson Jason Clar (Kieawnie), granddaughter Kristie Clar Romanowsky (Mike), and three great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Billy Furr of Columbus, MS., and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. The funeral will be held Wednesday, May 7th at Lincoln Hill Community Church in San Rafael with burial to follow at the Mount Tamalpais cemetery, also in San Rafael. Memorials and flowers may be made to Lincoln Hill Community Church, 1411 Lincoln Ave. San Rafael, CA 94901, or the.
Published in Marin Independent Journal on May 4, 2014