Obituary for Cleta Sommers
Cleta Madge (Carte) Sommers, 83, of Jerusalem, AR passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in her home, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on September 10, 1939, in Cove Creek, AR at home, as the only daughter of Lester and Lois Carte.
Cleta attended Cove Creek school in Arkansas until her family moved to Northern California in the spring of 1953. In search of employment, the Cartes settled at a sawmill camp near Ukiah, CA. Cleta attended 8th grade at the camp and finished 9th grade in Ukiah. Her time at the sawmill was spent working as a cook, and it was also where she met and fell in love with a man named Ben Sommers. The two were married a year later on October 22, 1955 in Reno, NV. They lived together at the camp for a few years before moving to Ukiah for two years and then to Cloverdale, CA after that.
During the early years of their marriage, Cleta held many jobs including working in the grocery store she and Ben owned, as well as picking prunes and grapes. She gave birth to her first child in 1956, and had five more within the next 17 years. In 1972, Cleta, Ben and their kids moved back home to Arkansas where their last child was born.
Cleta was a woman of many skills and talents. She enjoyed square dancing, crocheting and embroidering and could sew everything from clothes to the most beautiful quilts. She raised chickens for 29 years and kept laying hens after. An avid gardener, she grew enough fresh fruits and vegetables for her entire family to eat every summer and canned the rest for them to enjoy through the colder months. Her garden was an entire acre, as it had to be to feed a family as large as hers, and she tended to it almost solely by herself. She'd always refer to her quiet time in the garden as her "therapy." From jams and jellies to pickles and green beans, her cellar was always fully stocked and open to be shopped by those she loved. She expected it. "Ya'II better take some of those veggies," she would say.
Cleta showed her love to those around her in many ways, but more than anything she would find her way into the hearts of others through their stomachs. She had perfected the art of southern cooking, and anyone who had ever been to her home knew well that if you left hungry, it was your own fault. Sunday lunch was a beloved tradition in her family, and she loved nothing more than seeing a table full of hearty eaters enjoying a meal. She would always humbly refer to her meals as just "grandma food" or "country food" describing meals such as turkey and dressing as "easy." Her fried chicken was a family favorite along with her homemade breads and desserts.
Even in the final days of her long battle with Parkinson's disease, with her family attending to her every need as she had always done for them, Cleta was still constantly trying to serve those she loved. She was regularly trying to sneak into the kitchen and make some cookies or "feed those kids." It was all she ever knew and everything she loved. She was a true matriarch in every sense of the word.
Cleta was preceded in death by her parents Lester and Lois Carte, brothers Harlas (June) and Darrel (Rita) Carte, sons David (Sheila) and Randy Sommers and one grandson, Colby Thomas. She is survived by her husband Benjamin Sommers, daughter Sharon (Steven) lsely of Bee Branch, son Daniel (Ronda) Sommers of Jerusalem, son Steve (Kathi) Sommers of Jerusalem, daughter Sandra (Jeff) Harris of Hattieville, daughter Debra Thomas (Lance) of Jerusalem, 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Lemley Funeral Home in Atkins on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. and burial at Robertstown Cemetery in Jerusalem. The service will be officiated by Robert (Bob) Burch.
Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com.
Cleta attended Cove Creek school in Arkansas until her family moved to Northern California in the spring of 1953. In search of employment, the Cartes settled at a sawmill camp near Ukiah, CA. Cleta attended 8th grade at the camp and finished 9th grade in Ukiah. Her time at the sawmill was spent working as a cook, and it was also where she met and fell in love with a man named Ben Sommers. The two were married a year later on October 22, 1955 in Reno, NV. They lived together at the camp for a few years before moving to Ukiah for two years and then to Cloverdale, CA after that.
During the early years of their marriage, Cleta held many jobs including working in the grocery store she and Ben owned, as well as picking prunes and grapes. She gave birth to her first child in 1956, and had five more within the next 17 years. In 1972, Cleta, Ben and their kids moved back home to Arkansas where their last child was born.
Cleta was a woman of many skills and talents. She enjoyed square dancing, crocheting and embroidering and could sew everything from clothes to the most beautiful quilts. She raised chickens for 29 years and kept laying hens after. An avid gardener, she grew enough fresh fruits and vegetables for her entire family to eat every summer and canned the rest for them to enjoy through the colder months. Her garden was an entire acre, as it had to be to feed a family as large as hers, and she tended to it almost solely by herself. She'd always refer to her quiet time in the garden as her "therapy." From jams and jellies to pickles and green beans, her cellar was always fully stocked and open to be shopped by those she loved. She expected it. "Ya'II better take some of those veggies," she would say.
Cleta showed her love to those around her in many ways, but more than anything she would find her way into the hearts of others through their stomachs. She had perfected the art of southern cooking, and anyone who had ever been to her home knew well that if you left hungry, it was your own fault. Sunday lunch was a beloved tradition in her family, and she loved nothing more than seeing a table full of hearty eaters enjoying a meal. She would always humbly refer to her meals as just "grandma food" or "country food" describing meals such as turkey and dressing as "easy." Her fried chicken was a family favorite along with her homemade breads and desserts.
Even in the final days of her long battle with Parkinson's disease, with her family attending to her every need as she had always done for them, Cleta was still constantly trying to serve those she loved. She was regularly trying to sneak into the kitchen and make some cookies or "feed those kids." It was all she ever knew and everything she loved. She was a true matriarch in every sense of the word.
Cleta was preceded in death by her parents Lester and Lois Carte, brothers Harlas (June) and Darrel (Rita) Carte, sons David (Sheila) and Randy Sommers and one grandson, Colby Thomas. She is survived by her husband Benjamin Sommers, daughter Sharon (Steven) lsely of Bee Branch, son Daniel (Ronda) Sommers of Jerusalem, son Steve (Kathi) Sommers of Jerusalem, daughter Sandra (Jeff) Harris of Hattieville, daughter Debra Thomas (Lance) of Jerusalem, 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Lemley Funeral Home in Atkins on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. and burial at Robertstown Cemetery in Jerusalem. The service will be officiated by Robert (Bob) Burch.
Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com.