Clara Mae Barnes (maiden name Stuckey) was born on May 9, 1932, to Champion and Evelyn Stuckey in Kiblah, Arkansas. She was the fourth born of 12 siblings that she loved and cherished. As a child, she loved exploring and eating from their home garden.

In 1956, in Kansas City, Missouri, Clara married JD Barnes. Together they would travel to visit family and go on fishing trips. They were married for 60 years until the death of JD Barnes in 2016.

Clara proudly served as an usher and treasurer for Jamison Memorial Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri, meticulously donning her white gloves and matching uniform. Professionally, she worked as quality inspector for a uniform company until her retirement.

In her free time, Clara enjoyed visits with her grandchildren, playing competitive games of spades, word searches, Tyler Perry Madea movies, the Game Show Network, shopping, and rooting for the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs. She loved keeping up with her loved ones' lives through phone calls and social media recounts.

On September 17, 2025, in her Aurora, Colorado home, Clara passed away peacefully listening to scripture surrounded by a visiting pastor, her daughter, Rita Sewell; and two granddaughters, ChaToyya and CheyOnna Sewell. She is loved dearly and missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, JD Barnes; two brothers, Morris Stuckey and Willis Stuckey; one sister, Marjorie Patton; and three sons and two stepsons, Kevin Barnes, Dennis Barnes, William Stuckey, Robert Barnes, and Lorenzo Barnes.

She is survived by eight siblings, Cleo Henderson, Barbara Wiggins, Joyce Reid, Winnie Stuckey, Thomas Stuckey, Sr., Calvin Stuckey, Theodore Stuckey, and William Stuckey, Sr.; two children, Michael Barnes and Rita Sewell; 15 grandchildren, and even more great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Thoughtful care and services provided by E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc.