Etheljane “E.J.” Graffis Clutter, 85, passed away on Dec. 10, 2016, in Kalispell.
She was born Aug. 21, 1931, in Oakland, California, to John Leslie Graffis and Eva Merle Denton Graffis. Her mother died from complications of childbirth three days later. Her father later met and married Edith Kay in 1932; she was formally adopted by Edith Kay Graffis soon after. E.J. attended elementary school in Hayward, California, and later moved to Gold Hill, Oregon, with her parents to attend junior high and high school. The family had a dairy farm, and E.J. helped milk 60 cows twice a day. She graduated from Gold Hill High School in June 1949.
In 1950 she met the love of her life, Louis Albert Clutter, and they married in a small ceremony in her parents’ home in Gold Hill on May 4, 1950.
E.J. and Lou moved to Lehi, Utah, where they lived for eight years. During that time they had two daughters, Eva Kay “Kay” in 1951, and Donna Kathleen “Kathy” in 1953. E.J. worked for the Dugway Proving Ground.
In 1958 they moved to Bullhead City, Arizona. Another daughter came along in 1960, Connie Kristine “Kris.” E.J. worked for the Chamber of Commerce serving as secretary, office manager at Lake Mohave Resort, had involvement in the Mohave County Water Safety Council, and 17 years as a 4-H leader, where she helped many young people learn about photography, leather craft, sewing, electricity, cooking, public speaking and being better citizens. She was an active member of the Hope United Methodist Church, Lioness Club, State Extension board, County Fair board, and received Arizona’s PTA Lifetime Award. She helped organize the first Lioness Club in Arizona under Lions International. It was among the first 50 organized in the world.
In 1977 they moved to Redding, California, where E.J. received her Associate of Arts degree in accounting from Shasta Community College in three semesters, with a 4.0 grade point average. She and Lou were very active with their Lioness and Lions clubs and hosted Japanese exchange students.
In 1980 Lou retired and they moved to Gold Hill where they renewed friendships and became very active in their community there. She was an active member of the Gold Hill United Methodist Church, served on many local, district and state Lioness committees and offices, and hosted a few Australian and New Zealand exchange students. She received the first ever International Lioness of the Year award in July 2003. She helped with Dogs for the Deaf programs, as well as in the Lions Sight and Hearing Center. After 48 years of marriage, Lou died in 1998.
She loved spending time with family and friends — camping, hunting, water skiing and fishing. She traveled throughout the United States and even made it to Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Golf became a passion later in life and she golfed in Arizona, Oregon and Montana. She spent lots of time and energy following her family genealogy back through the centuries — it was a fun puzzle for her. She always welcomed her daughters’ friends into her home and made them feel welcome. She enjoyed her large garden, and she shared and canned a lot of their harvest. Her grandkids and great-grandkids were her pride and joy. She would share news of them in her yearly Christmas letter that would be mailed around the world to many family members and lifelong friends.
She had a stroke in 2004 that affected her physically, but didn’t slow her enthusiasm. She moved to Kalispell to live in Wel-Life assisted living and enjoyed the activities that happened there — she was the self-designated photographer for the events there. She lived there for almost 10 years, when another stroke made it necessary for her to move to Immanuel Lutheran skilled care. She made many friends, enjoyed the social atmosphere, and lived comfortably there until the end of her life. She liked attending concerts and field trips in the Flathead Valley, going out to lunch or dinner and taking rides with Kris and Kevin.
You could always count on her big smile, listening ear, helpful hands and open arms for a big hug. She will be missed by so many who knew her. Her eternal positive attitude is a good example for her family.
E.J. was preceded in death by her parents, John, Eva and Edith Graffis; and husband, Louis Clutter.
She is survived by her daughters, Kay White (Linda Spencer) of Peoria, Arizona, Kathy Fister of Cape May, New Jersey, and Kris Hursh (Kevin) of Kalispell; grandchildren, Tamara Watson (Tom) of Sparks, Maryland, Bryan Hursh (Elizabeth) of Ashford, Connecticut, and Katie Hursh of Sedro-Wooley, Washington; and great-grandchildren, Ellie, Jack, Sadie and Maeve Watson; first cousin, Don Denton, of Penn Valley, California; and other cousins, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews throughout the country.
A memorial and celebration of life will be held in the summer (date to be announced) in Medford, Oregon, at Hillcrest Cemetery. Conger Morris Funeral Home will take care of the service.
Donations can be made in her name to Dogs for the Deaf, in Central Point, Oregon, at www.dogsforthedeaf.org