Clara Mae Counts

Clara Mae Counts was born October 5, 1921, in Manor Texas. One of several children born to the union of the late Marvin Pitts and Alice Pitts. She grew up around the suburbs of Austin Texas. After World War Two she moved to Phoenix Arizona, where she met the love of her life. In May of 1947 she married James Edward Counts and that union lasted for 65 years until her husband departed this life on September 28th of 2012. In the late 50’s early 60’s Clara Counts attended beauty technical school and learned to be a hairdresser. After working as a stylist for several years her entrepreneurial spirit led her to open her own salon which in turn encouraged her husband to go into business for himself. They purchased land at 16th Street near Broadway Road and opened Counts Dry Cleaners which operated for more than 46 years. In addition to working in the cleaners Clara also worked at the Smoke Tree Resort in Scottsdale where she was the head housekeeper. While mom had a strong work ethic, she was also a strong woman of faith. She was a member of the Tonto Street Church of Christ for more than 50 years, she spent many an hour working with the youth choir, acting as a counselor traveling around the county with the group who would perform at various youth conferences during the summer. Mom read the scriptures often and loved gospel music and on Sunday’s she would go to morning worship and evening worship as well as Wednesday night Bible study. Mom enjoyed life to the fullest and while she was a great cook, she had a magic touch when it came to baking. Her Red Velvet Cake is legendary. Mom also loved to travel with her three sons in tow, Once we went from Phoenix to Boston and back on a Greyhound Bus, taking a detour to Washington D.C. to visit all the museums and monuments. She leaves to cherish her memory, three sons, James Counts Jr of Phoenix Arizona, Glenn Counts of Charlotte North Carolina, and Lannie Counts of Las Vegas Nevada, two daughter in laws Maria Counts of Phoenix Arizona and Victoria Williams of Charlotte and five grandchildren, Lourdes Johnson, Evelyn Chong, Eddie Chong and Zuilvio Tavares and a host of great grandchildren. ReplyForward