Clara Julia McInnis of Mason, Texas, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at the age of 101. She was born on November 23rd, 1913, in Travis County, Texas, to Alfred and Emma Gertsman Rosenbusch, and was the third of eight children.
Clara's family operated a small farm in the community of Mudd (Pace Bend), Texas, and spoke only German until the children started school. She met Dayton McInnis at a local dance and after a short courtship they declared their love for each other and married on January 29th, 1935. They settled in the Spicewood community and began a ranching/farming career. Money was scarce for the newlyweds so a generous uncle loaned them $200 to buy furniture with enough left over to supply them in groceries for about a year. Their first home was a small 4-room clapboard house with no insulation. In the winter they would take turns getting up each morning to start a fire in the woodstove, and many times food left on the counter would be frozen by morning. At 11:05 AM on October 17, 1938, they welcomed their first daughter, Virginia Carroll. Four years later, at 11:05 AM on June 14, 1942, Janice Marie came into their lives. Their son David Russell was born at 11:05 AM on June 6, 1946, completing their family.
Clara and Dayton spent 37 years farming and ranching in Spicewood, and in 1972 sold the property and relocated in Cottonwood in Callahan County, Texas, where they raised and sold registered Red Brangus cattle. Dayton died in 1992 and Clara sold the herd, but remained on the ranch until 2007 when she moved to Mason to be near her daughter Virginia. Her time in Mason was made exceptionally happy by the many wonderful friends she made, as well as times spent in Ft. Worth and Dallas visiting her daughter Janice and her family and in Carlsbad, NM, visiting her son David and his family.
Clara experienced much progress and many changes in the 101+ years she lived on this earth. There was the introduction of telephones, electricity, indoor plumbing, television and numerous technological changes. She lived through the Great Depression, World War II and saw her only son go off to war in Viet Nam. She witnessed the evolution of the automobile and, being born only 10 years after the Wright Brothers made their first flight, also witnessed the progression of air travel to space travel and astronauts walking on the moon.
She and Dayton managed through the drought of the 50's with their ranch intact, although Dayton was forced to drive to Austin each day for several years to work as a carpenter, leaving the farm and ranch work almost solely to Clara; however, even with this additional workload she continued to tend her vegetable garden, sew for the three children and run the household on her own, all of which is a testament to her fortitude and perseverance. When asked how she accomplished all this she simply said, "I just did what I had to do, and the Lord was always with me".
Clara selflessly shared her faith in God, her love, and her time. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of her family, friends and community.
Clara was preceded in death by her husband Dayton McInnis; brothers Walter, Raymond, Edwin, and infant Arthur Rosenbusch; sister Alma Naumann; and great grandson, Trey Jacks.
She is survived by her daughters Virginia Durst and Kenneth of Mason, Janice Bristow and David of Fort Worth and son David McInnis and Patty of Carlsbad, NM. She is also survived by sisters Frieda Hinson and Hilda Rylander, sister-in-law Margie Rosenbusch, and grandchildren Kathy Ross and Mike, Janie Smith and Kenneth, Mike Durst and Keryn, Dane McInnis, Kacy Zaleski and Steve, Amy Kitchens and Wesley, David McInnis II and Danna Andrews and Shane.
Great grandchildren include Amanda, Robert, Andrew, and Daniel Durst; Tristan and Zackary Zaleski, Tia and Jason Kitchens; Matthew, Mark, and Laura Ross; Melissa Bennett, Katy Mulkey and Logan, Samantha Auten, Kristen Auten, and Jacob Groening; Walker McInnis, Grant and Reagan Jacks, Kennedy Andrews; and Brittany McInnis.
Great great grandchildren are Clara, Dayton and Jaxson Mulkey; Hailee Blocker; Trevor Bennett, and Addilyn Ernst; numerous nieces and nephews, and special friends Mary Ellen Merkel and Earlene Bode.
Clara remained a member of the Cottonwood Baptist Church, but attended the Art United Methodist Church for the 8 years she lived in Mason.

Visitation with the family will be Sunday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 29, at 10:00 a.m. at the Art United Methodist Church with Rev. John Alsbrooks leading the service. Interment will follow in the Gooch Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Steve Zaleski, Wesley Kitchens, Michael Durst, Mike Ross, David McInnis II and Shane Andrews. Honorary pallbearers are Matthew Ross, Mark Ross, Tristan Zaleski, Zackary Zaleski, Jason Kitchens, Robert Durst, Andrew Durst, Daniel Durst, Walker McInnis, Jacob Groening, Grant Jacks and Ken Smith.

Memorials may be made to the Art United Methodist Church, The Mason Senior Center, Hill Country Memorial Hospice of Fredericksburg or the charity of your choice.