Klara H. Overton

Our sister in Christ, Klara Hemming Overton, spread her heavenly wings and went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on 19 August 2026. Klara was born to August and Margareta Hemming, on 3 September 1938, in Stuttgart, Germany. 

Klara was born and lived her early childhood in wartime and post-war Germany but you would never believe she suffered from the stresses of growing up on a battlefield.  Klara remembered this period but chose instead to focus on the kindness shown her and her family by American Soldiers during post-war reconstruction.  In 1956 she met Robert (Bob) Overton whom she married in 1957 and shared her life for the next 65 years. 

Bob and Klara's first child, Randy, was born in May 1958, and the Army moved them from Germany to Fort Benning, GA, in July 1958. Bob and Klara's second son Michael, was born in September 1959. Their third son, Allan, was born in August 1962, and their family was complete. During this period Klara diligently pursued her citizenship and achieved Naturalized on 4 September 1963, one of her most cherished accomplishments. Indeed, Klara was unique in her love of our country.

While her love for the United States was great it paled in comparison to the love and devotion she had for her husband and her three sons. Life was not easy for Klara during the early years, Bob was frequently deployed to South Korea, and spent three and a half years in Vietnam. Klara was a full-time Mother and much of the time pulled father duties. Klara never waivered, never complained, and the bond between her and her sons was strong. Klara kept them busy with sports and extra curricular activities. Though money was tight with the separations she always found a way to develop and nurture her sons and their pursuits.

Bob continued working after the Army as a carpenter and electrician while Klara continued to maintain her household and work with various employers in the area. They enjoyed their off-time often traveling in their camper to local and distant locations across the United States. In 1984 Klara and her mother visited the First Baptist Church of Choctaw Beach, where Klara became a member of the congregation for over 40 years, and their music director for 35 of those years. Klara loved her new passion and devoted herself to her church and her extended church family. Klara enjoyed life and tried to make everyone in her life as happy as she could every day of her life. 

Klara was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bob; her parents August and Margareta; and her sisters Lori and Gretel. Klara leaves behind her sister Heidi Cotey; three sons and their wives, Randy and Sandy; Mike and Sabrina; Allan and Heather; ten grand-children and their spouses, Randa and Lance Lewis; Dee Dee and Brian Kohl; Heidi and Joshua Boudar; Aaron and Viviana Overton; Nicolas Overton; Caleb Overton; Noah and Brooke Overton; Addison Overton; Jackson Overton; Joshua and Haley Overton; and three great-grandchildren, Dylan and Brody Kohl; and Ziggy Crawford. 

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