Clara (Pierce) Roach

Clara Pierce Roach

It is with great sadness and much love that the family of Clara Pierce Roach, age 82, of Morristown, announces her passing on Friday, March 15, 2024, surrounded by her family.

Clara was born on October 7, 1941 to Robert and Ruby (Raines) Pierce in Talbott, TN, living there until the family moved to rural Ohio in 1955. She graduated from Buckeye High School in Medina, Ohio in 1959 with grades as good as her active, fun-filled, social life would allow. She and her wide circle of friends definitely made their mark on the school; why else, you ask, would senior field trips have been abolished shortly after their graduation?

She returned to Tennessee in the mid-sixties and met her forever-love, Jack Roach, to whom she was married by a Justice-of-the-Peace in a tobacco barn on October 24, 1970. Sadly, she was widowed early and left to raise their son alone. Clara settled to work in the old Morristown K-Mart, retiring from there in 1998 after twenty-two years of service. She continued to devotedly care for both parents for many years as they fought dementia and serious health problems. During the following years, she became a three time cancer survivor. 

Clara was a strong-willed, independent, full-of-personality woman who chose to live life on her own terms. Throughout her life, she stayed acutely knowledgeable of world and current events, never shy about voicing her opinion on any controversial subject…or mundane subject, or pretty-much any subject! She was an avid reader, especially interested in books pertaining to World War II. Clara was a lifelong, dedicated supporter and volunteer of the Democratic Party. She was quick-witted with a strong sense of humor and could educate or entertain with a unique coin of phrase. She loved to travel, even taking a solo trip to Italy a few years ago.

One knew not to call before she had consumed a couple of cups of morning coffee or after 9:00 pm in the evening (her given deadline!). If you got into her car or stepped into her delightfully decorated 50’s-themed house, you would always hear classic country music playing on her boombox. She was a sun-worshiper all her life and loved “playing in the dirt” (gardening), especially flowers and trees. She loved strawberries, anxiously awaiting the arrival of SC strawberries to the Farmers Market each spring. Until her eyesight deteriorated, she was a talented cross-stitcher who lovingly shared her treasures with family and friends.

Her greatest accomplishment and proudest pleasure in life was her adored son, Greg and his family. Clara is survived by her son, Greg (Jennifer) Roach; granddaughters, Lindsey Bates (Lee Grimm), Lilith, and Layne; grandson, Will (Payton) Roach, all of Morristown; Sisters, Jody Frambach of Dubuque, Iowa, Jessie Aldridge of Morristown, and Vickie Fulton of Spencer, Ohio; sisters-in-law, Betty Pierce of Charlotte, NC and Kay Jones of Jefferson City, TN; and several loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Roach; parents, Bob and Ruby Pierce; father and mother-in-law, Abbe and Willa Mae Roach; brother, Bob Pierce; and many brothers and sisters-in-law.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staffs at Heritage Center, MHHS BHU and CCU, and Dr. Gupta’s office for the wonderful care given to Clara in the last few weeks of her life.

As per her wishes, cremation will take place. The family will receive friends from 3 - 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23rd at Westside Chapel Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 4 p.m. with Dr. Nathan Frambach officiating.  Arrangements by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clara (Pierce) Roach, please visit our floral store.