Clara Watters

Clara “Sis” Lillie Watters (née Moore), age 75, of Orem, Utah, died in her home the morning of Monday, March 19, 2018. She was 75 years old.

Clara was born July 12, 1942, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ronald Isaac and Clara Elizabeth (née Phillips) Moore. The youngest of four, she was known as “Sis” to her three older brothers (and everyone else). In 1959—at the age of 17—she married Jack Denter, her childhood sweetheart and the boy down the street. After the birth of her first three sons, they moved to Provo, Utah, where for ten years, they worked for KFC as co-owner managers. During that time they welcomed another son and finally . . . a daughter. They later left KFC and opened their own restaurant in Orem, Utah. In 1980, Clara married her second husband and 28-year companion, Lavar Watters. These two were two peas in a pod and their adventures together were memorable.

Clara was a hard-working wife and mother who loved a clean house, a weekend trip to Wendover and her kids. In her later years, as a widow, she spent most of her time with her grown children who knew there would always be a cold Coke and a homemade “goodie” waiting for them at Mom’s house. She was the happiest when she was surrounded by “the kids,” whether they were just visiting about the day-to-day over “a cup” or belly-laughing and reminiscing (which happened often). In a note found in a pile of paperwork the morning she passed, she said it best, “You all were my life. God sent me the best.”

Clara passed away in her home after a few years of struggling with congestive heart failure. She will be remembered as a loving mom who was always up for a good time and always had something to say about it once you got there. She’ll be missed but not forgotten (oh the Clara stories!). “You have to play to win!”

Clara is survived by her five children: Daniel (Amy) Denter of Lindon, Utah; Randy (Linda) Denter of Orem, Utah; Ronald Denter of Draper, Utah; Thomas Denter of Orem, Utah; Julie (James) Culwell of Wilmington, Ohio; her step-children: Bob (Laurel) Watters of Whitesburg, Georgia; Kathy-Ann (Gary) Bosch of Lehi, Utah; Russ (Kim) Watters of Lehi, Utah; her grandchildren: Airiel, Quinn (Chelsey), Katy, Sophia, Olivia, Dashel, Breanna (Jason), Austin (McKayla), Leah, Noah, Megan, Tristan, Tanisha, and Jackson; step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; siblings: Thomas (Louise) Moore of Las Vegas, Nevada and David (Anita) Moore of Ogden, Utah. She is preceded in death by her husband John LaVar Watters of Springville, Utah; first husband Jack Harold Denter of Provo, Utah; parents Ronald and Clara Moore of Salt Lake City, Utah; brother Leo (Nancy) Moore of Sandy, Utah and her step-son Joe (Carol) Watters of St. George, Utah.

A viewing will be held Monday, March 26, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary located at 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. The viewing will be followed by the burial and a short graveside service at Orem City Cemetery. Bishop Hollingshead will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Clara's life.

Condolences for the family may be left on this page.