Clara J. “Tootie” Wood of 434 Colbert Ave., Oil City, died at 1:47 PM, Thursday, June 28, 2012, at UPMC Northwest in Seneca.

Born September 20, 1945 in Erie, she was a daughter of the late Richard and Silva Viola Anderson Messenger.

She was employed by VNA of Venango County for 19 ½ years when she retired in 2008 due to illness.

Clara’s hobbies included crocheting, the love of making afghans and dollies which she gave to friends and family, and a good game of cards.

Surviving are her significant other, Jim Winger of Oil City; sons William Whitford and his wife Donna and Russell Whitford, all of Oil City, Tim Whitford and his wife Patty of Franklin, Chuck Whitford and his wife Tammy and a daughter, Sylvia Whitford, all of Oil City; two grandsons whom she raised, Matthew Whitford and Dustin Irwin, both of Oil City and her other grandchildren, Steffanie, Alicia, Sherry, Cody, Ryan, Jessie, Cathy, Meshia, Taffy and Jeff; and 4 great grandchildren.

She is also survived by 2 stepchildren, Jeffery Winger and his wife Cindy of Corry, and Patricia Lawrence and her husband John from North Carolina; a sister Harriet Waldinger of Edinboro and a brother Albert (Buss) Messenger of Pittsburgh.

Also surviving are family and friends Nancy and Bernie Sanders, Mary Ann and Herb Richards all of West Virginia, Larry and Theresa Winger of Massachusetts and Dale and Debbie Winger of Franklin.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Foster and Marian Fleming, and a brother, Keith Messenger

Friends may call at the Morrison Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm.

Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 11 am Monday with the Rev. Tom Phillips, pastor of the Bethel United Methodist Church, officiating

Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens.