SHERIDAN - Mass of Christian Burial for Sheridan resident Margaret Clearwater Powers, 74, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today, Oct. 21, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Sheridan. Interment will follow in Sheridan Elks Cemetery.
She died Oct. 17, 2004, at Sheridan County Memorial Hospital.
Born May 31, 1930, in Dearborn, Mich., she was the daughter of Victor B. and Anna (Kuzara) Eccli; and moved with her family to Sheridan in 1932. She was raised and educated there and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1948, starting work in a public accounting office the day after graduation.
In 1951, she married Robert W. Clearwater. They were the parents of eight children. Her husband preceded her in death in 1967.
She continued working through 1953 and, in 1956, moved to Cody to work as a secretary for Husky Oil Co. In 1960, she returned to Sheridan and to the accounting office. She continued working there until March 1972.
That year, she married John T. Powers. He died in January 1977.
She began working as a bookkeeper at Sheridan Commercial Co. in April 1972 and retired in February 1997, after 25 years of service.
After retirement, she loved working in her yard and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
She was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church.
Survivors include five sons, Gary P. and James A. "Jim" Clearwater of Sheridan, Robert Timothy Clearwater of Colorado, Daniel M. "Dan" Clearwater of Appleton, Wis., and Richard L. Clearwater of Warner Robbins, Ga.; daughter, Kelly M. Bowen of Ranchester; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Robert Eccli of Orlando, Fla., and Rick Eccli of Cheyenne.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; a son, T. Michael "Mike" Clearwater; a daughter, Vicktoria Ann Clearwater; and a granddaughter.
The family would appreciate memorials to the Margaret Clearwater Powers Memorial Fund, in care of Karen Green, First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801.
Kane Funeral Home of Sheridan is in charge of arrangements.