Edith W Clanton
1918 – 2015
Edith Boedeker Wise Clanton was born on July 26, 1918 and entered eternal rest on July 29, 2015. She was a lifelong resident of Conroe and one of the first women in Conroe to own and operate her own business, first running Wise Paper and Chemical Company and then Edith’s Antiques and Gifts, which she operated for over 40 years in the house that had been the home in which she was raised and raised her children.
Edith had a great love of Conroe history and was an emeritus member of the Montgomery County Historical Commission. She knew a wealth of information on the city’s early days and maintained an extensive collection of historical information and pictures, which she shared generously with anyone interested. She was mentioned in the United States Congressional Record by Congressman Kevin Brady in his recognition of the 100 year commemoration of the founding of Conroe.
Edith was also extremely knowledgeable about antiques and her shop was a mecca for years for local antique lovers who enjoyed shopping and benefitting from her expert advice. Her shop was turned into a fairyland of beautiful decorations each year for Christmas, with exquisite trees and decor in each room.
Edith’s life was marked by her generosity in blessing the lives of others in many ways, especially her children and stepchildren and all of their families, and now her former antique shop reflects that life of love and service as the new home of the Disciples of the Wilderness Church. For many years, Edith was a member of Internos Club, a women’s social and charitable organization.
She was preceded in death by her father, John A. Boedeker; mother, Emma Boedeker; brother, John E. Boedeker; husband, Clyde Kelly Wise; and husband, Russell Smith Clanton. Edith is survived by her son, Charles Wise and wife Merry; son, Carey Wise and wife Brenda; daughter, Karen O’Sullivan and husband Mike; stepdaughter, Leona Sisk; stepdaughter, Jody Piggott and husband Bruce; stepdaughter, Beverly Calfee; grandchildren, Erik Stapper, Brock Stapper, Summer Wise Yen and husband Anthony, Jennifer Wise, Paul Wise, Eric Smith, Robin Longmire and wife Nancy, Russell Longmire and wife Laura, Wayne Longmire and wife Carol, Angela Culbreth and husband Ted, Bruce Brown Piggott and wife Annik, Daniel Whitworth and Sarah and Rebecca Fairchild and husband Rick; a host of great and great- great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and dear and valued friends, Vertis Henry and Marie Eads.
Edith will lie in state for a visitation at the site of her former home and antique shop at 910 Cable Street in Conroe which is now the Disciples of the Wilderness Church from 6 PM to 8 PM on Sunday, August 2, 2015. A sign identifying the house for her visitation will be in front of the location.
A funeral services will be held at 10 am on Monday, August 3, 2015 at the First Baptist Church of Conroe, 600 N Main, Conroe, Texas. A graveside service will follow in Conroe Memorial Park. Services are under the direction of Eickenhorst Funeral Directors, who are accepting any floral tributes for the services.
