Clara Callihan

Clara Callihan, age 77, of Cashes Valley passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family, October 23, 2022 after a 2 year battle with cancer.

Clara Callihan was born April 10, 1945 in Cashes Valley, Fannin County to the late Herdis and Ellen Garrison Callihan.

Clara left home after high school and eventually settled in Atlanta, Georgia. She worked in the telecommunication field as a technician for 42 years, and 37 of those years were with BellSouth. She returned home to Cashes Valley in 2006 after retirement and worked part time for the US Census Bureau until recently due to her illness. Clara lived a very full life of service to her family and friends and was known for her grace and generosity. She traveled the country as well as the world extensively while exploring other cultures and collecting art.

She enjoyed many other hobbies such as attending the Atlanta Steeplechase each year and in her younger years she enjoyed snow skiing. Her snow skiing hobby ended after an injury in Canada but her adventurous spirit found her continuing to travel on family ski trips just to take in the scenery. She gladly volunteered to chaperone several band trips with her great nieces which included Ireland, London and Hawaii. Her last international adventure was to China with her cousins.

Clara had a big heart for children and enjoyed every minute she could spend with her “babies” as she called them, great great niece Joselyn Clara Wood, and great great nephews, Judah, Israel and Zion Wood. Clara will be greatly missed by her family, especially by her “babies”. Clara was a member of New Life Fellowship Church and was very active in the Fannin County GOP.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings, Jean Bossen, James Callihan, Estella “Kelly” Ensley, Johnny Callihan and Patty Callihan.

Survivors include her siblings, Lillie Mae Cole (Late Cecil), Polly and Jerry Keppel, Lucy Donnelly (Late Dick), Winston and Jodie Callihan, Tommy and Alma Callihan, Mary Ellen Callihan and Joanie and Bill Stuart; niece, Rhonda and Jim Jacobs; great nieces, Magan Wood (Adam Walker), Lexie Lamb (Ben Lamb); great nieces and nephews, Joselyn Clara Wood, Judah Wood, Israel Wood and Zion Wood; brother-in-law, Ilo Bossen; sisters-in-law, Jean Callihan and Robbi Callihan; and a host of other nieces, nephews, other family members and her special Atlanta friends.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 2 p.m. from the Akins-Cobb Blue Ridge Chapel with the Rev. Shannon Spurling officiating. A eulogy was provided by Harry Doss. Music was provided Magan Wood, Lexie and Ben Lamb and Eddy Garrison. Interment followed in the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery with the following great-nephews serving as pallbearers: Jimmy Gindorf, Brian Keppel, Eric Donnelly, Ricky Callihan, Sterling Callihan, Chris Ensley, Drue Callihan, Sean Callihan and Billy Stuart. Selected to serve as honorary pallbearers were: James David Callihan, Bobby Callihan, Tim Callihan, Derrick Callihan, Joe Wood, Harry Doss and William Turner.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mt. Moriah Church Cemetery Fund.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com.