Clara Ada Johnson Clepper Smith 1912-1982

Clara Ada Johnson Clepper Smith was born on 11 Apr 1912 in Montgomery County, Texas and was the daughter of John Wesley Johnson and Belle Zora (Quinn) Johnson. She was the grand-daughter of Tom Peter Johnson.

    Ada and William Wesley Clepper (458-28-2477) were married on 15 Oct 1932 in Waller County, Texas.

    Ada and Milton E. Smith were married ca1965

    On 27 May 1982, Ada was going to talk a meal to her friend and then pick up her grandchildren from school, but was killed in a car accident (details below) after leaving her son's house.
    Ada's funeral and burial were held at the Brookside Memorial Park.

    Wesley and Ada had seven children. Harvey Loyd Clepper (1936-1997) and Cecil Leonard Clepper (1937-1990) have passed away, but the other five are still living.

A letter written by Ada states “I finished the Tenth grade and received my diploma on the 24th of April 1930 and was the only one in the class.”

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Funeral Notice from Newspaper

Clara Ada Clepper Smith, 70, of Humble passed away Thursday. Survivors: daughters, Verlie Booth, Okla., Ethlene Beard, Houston, Susan Massey, Houston; sons, Cecil of Spring, Ventis of Texarkana, Harvey of Freeport, and Ellis Clepper of Houston; Sisters Arlene Knee of Humble, Elna Fortson, Humble, Alma Rhodes, Houston, Ethyle Bruner, Fischer, TX, Erma Skaggs Ficher, TX, Eunice Hardy, Abilene; brothers Cloyd of Tennessee, Jim of Fredisburg, Donald Johnson of Leona; 19 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral services 2 p.m. Monday, Brookside Funeral Chapel with Reverend E. M. Darneal officiating, internment Brookside Memorial Park. Brookside Funeral Home, Eastex at Louder Rd., 449-6511

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Newspaper Story on Ada’s Death

Man allegedly drag-racing gets fine,
probation in death of elderly woman

A young Houston man who was allegedly drag-racing when his car hit and killed a 70-year-old woman in her vehicle on a residential street has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to a five year probation and a $5,000 fine.
James Parr, 19, of 8438 Gold Creek, was found guilty and sentenced Wednesday by a jury in the court of state District Judge Michael McSpadden for the May 27 death of Ada Johnson Smith, of 2025 N. Houston in Humble.
The judge also ordered Parr to spend 30 days in jail and to refrain from driving for during the probation period.
The crash took place at Antoine and Shady Villa at midday.
Prosecutor Elaine Marshall Bratton said Parr rounded a curve at 60 mph and hit Mrs. Smith’s vehicle which was turning from Shady Villa onto Antoine. She died at a hospital later that day.
Michael Sargent, 18, testified for the prosecution that he was racing with Parr. Sargent was not charged in the case.
But after the jury left the courtroom to begin deliberation on Parr’s punishment, the judge lectured Sargent, who was in the audience.
McSpadden, a former prosecutor, said that if he had been the district attorney, Sargent would have been charged for his role in the offense.
McSpadden said that if Sargent ever ticketed for a traffic offense, he would contact the traffic court judge and urge the stiffest penalties for Sargent.
Parr denied he was in a race and said he was going between 40 and 50 mph. But Mrs. Bratton said skid marks showed his vehicle exceeded 60 mph.