Clara Groenke

Clara Elaine Groenke, a woman of God, was born September 2, 1932 in Kent City, Michigan to Henry (Hank) and Marion Cole-Groenke passed on November 20, 2020 at 88 yrs. Clara was “a brave stay-at-home mom” of 9 children until 1972. After the 24 year marriage to Lewis A. Hammond II, the father of all 9 children, Clara started a new life in Sapulpa, OK and later settled in Owasso, OK. She attended the Church of the Nazarene in Sapulpa, OK where she was born again in the spirit. Always grateful that her life in the “Pits of Hell” had ended and was eager to share her new life and walk with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with anyone. Her testimony for the Lord that was so powerful it left many speechless. She entered the working women in the outside world taking on the role as a single parent with no more than her sheer determination to succeed and the Good Grace’s of the Heavenly Father. She went from working as a housekeeper at Bartlett Memorial Hospital in. Sapulpa, OK, to cooking at the Church of the Nazarene school in Oklahoma City, to a CNA for 1st Call in Tulsa, OK. She was forced into retirement at age 85. On top of her regular jobs, she had odd jobs cleaning homes all over Sapulpa, OK. She was not allowed to drive in her marriage or able to drive so she didn’t own a vehicle. But she would start every day with a hope and a prayer and then put them little feet on the ground and march the march only a servant of the Lord could march. She was a perfect picture of health. She was unstoppable. She could walk across a 5 mile stretch as if it was walking across the street. Her energy and love for her children and new life with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not ever waiver. She earned her CNA and Med Nurse certifications while caring for her children and working a full time job in Stroud, OK. She was one of God’s special caregivers for over 45 years. She is preceded in death by her older son Rocky Hammond, son Lewis Hammond III, daughter’s Tammy Lynn Alburty and Jackie Graves. She is survived by her daughter’s Clara (Lucy) Moss, MariAnn (Mary) Schmid and husband Greg, Tina Hamilton and Sally Edwards and husband Tom, her youngest son Tommy Hammond. She has 21 natural grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.