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The words penned are in honor and celebration of a pioneer woman with true grit and who lived life to the fullest.
On Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, Edna Mae McClaflin peacefully met her savior and was reunited with Wallace, the husband she had been missing for 33 years. She was just five weeks shy of her 100th birthday. She was also preceded in death by her brother Thomas and sisters Ruby and Pauline.
Edna Mae was born on Jan. 3, 1920, in Tyler, Texas, to Hannah and Thomas Atkinson. She lived through the Great Depression and married the love of her life, Wallace McClaflin, on Dec. 14, 1941. With two babies at home, she endured while he served his country in World War II.
In 1949, she and Wallace were awarded a homestead near Heart Mountain in Powell. Together, they carved farmland out of the Wyoming sagebrush. With the help of her son, Wayne, she continued to run the farm after Wallace’s death in 1986.
Edna Mae gave a great contribution to the Northwest College board in Seattle, Washington, the 4-H youth program, and her church through teaching, leadership and singing.
She loved her church, her family, and her farm, but most importantly, she loved her lord and savior, Jesus Christ. She fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith.
She is survived by her son Mike McClaflin and his wife Linda of Powell; daughter Patricia Booher of Jackson, Michigan; son Wayne McClaflin and his wife Pam of Powell; as well as six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She shall be missed, but we rejoice that she can now live in the fullness that is her reward of eternal life.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at 2 p.m., at Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Powell. A viewing for friends and family will be at 1 p.m., at 777 East Seventh Street, in Powell. For more information call 307-754-2333.
