Clarence Houston ooze

EASTON - Clarence Houston Booze, 91, formerly of Chester, died at his family"s home in Stevensville on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007.

Born on March 3, 1916, the son of the late Everett Booze and Ethel Creighton Booze in Fishing Creek he was a graduate of Hoopers Island High School, class of 1934.

He began his career working as a carpenter for local contractors in Cambridge. He later worked as a draftsman for Nuttle Lumber Co. in Denton. In 1939, he established his own contracting business, Clarence H. Booze, Building Contractor in Cambridge.

He married Lauraetta Wilson on June 25, 1942.

Mr. Booze served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Clarence was in the China-Burma-India Campaign where he was a company commander and received a Purple Heart. He was discharged as a captain in 1946. He returned to Cambridge to resume his contracting business.

In 1952, after the Bay Bridge was built, he and his family moved to Chester. During his career, he built more than 100 homes, mainly on Kent Island. He retired in 1985. His wife, Lauraetta Wilson Booze, died Jan. 24, 1990. In 1993, he married Elsie Smith and she predeceased him in January 2004.

Mr. Booze enjoyed family genealogy and researching the history of Hoopers Island. He was a member of Christ Church in Stevensville where he had served on the vestry. He was a lifetime member of Tuckahoe Steam and Gas. He was a founder of James Richardson Museum in Cambridge. He was an enthusiastic member of Prime Timers Singing Group at The Parkview Apartments in Easton where he resided.

He is survived by four children; Kenneth H. Booze and his wife, Kim Loan of Gambrills, Shirley O. Rider and her husband, Robert of Elkhart, Ind., Thomas M. Booze and his wife, Denise of Stevensville, James W. Booze and his wife, Betty of Laurel; two sisters, Ethel Jones of Denton and Ruth Baker of Stevensville; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A brother, Luther O. Booze predeceased him.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., 106 Shamrock Road, Chester. Burial will be at St. John"s Chapel Cemetery, Cornersville, MD.

Family and friends may call at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Chester today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to James Richardson Museum, P.O. Box 1198, Cambridge, MD 21613 or Hospice of Queen Anne"s Inc, 423 Thompson Creek Road, Stevensville, MD 21666.