Clara E. Johnson

Clara Elizabeth Johnson, 70, of South Kingstown, RI, died on October 4 with her family by her side. Clara led a life of deep connection: to her family and friends, to her community, and to her spirituality. Raised on a farm by her parents, Pierre and Sylvia (Lavigne) Bonard, Clara knew the value of hard work. She excelled in academics, first as salutatorian of the 1964 Class of South Kingstown High School, then going on to receive a BA in English from Gordon College and a MA in English from the University of Rhode Island. Clara put her curiosity and love of learning to work as the owner and operator of Harolds Bookstore (Wakefield, RI), which was one of the first New Age bookstores in New England. Harolds provided many in the community with a gathering place, center of new thinking, and place of peace. When Clara sold Harolds after 20 years of operation in 1995, she took her love of adventure to her next pursuit as a tour director for Tauck World Discovery. For fifteen years she introduced hundreds of travelers to the beauty and history of places including the Southwest, Yellowstone, and Costa Rica. More recently, she devoted her time to local efforts volunteering at Theatre by the Sea, the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, the Community Emergency Response Team, Horses Bring Hope, and the South Kingstown Senior Center. Clara formed authentic relationships with all kinds of people. From lifelong friends to bookstore clients and to fellow travelers, she always took time to get to know others. It is hard to meet anyone who didnt have their own one-of-a- kind story about her. At Claras heart was her family. She was a constant source of wonder, exasperation and support for her children, sisters, and nieces and nephews. Known as Didi to her grandchildren, she was nothing short of magical, taking them on "midnight" searches for fairies, special Didi vacations, and dispensing her invaluable advice. Clara was guided by her spirituality in all that she did. She journeyed across the world to broaden her mystical understanding. She was known as Alia (Beautiful) within her Sufi community, Wahane to her Native American teachers, and she had a connection to many other faiths. Clara sought to understand the deepest questions in life; and she shared and guided others on their own spiritual paths. Clara is survived by her daughter Lara (Johnson) Montle and son-in-law Michael Montle; son Christopher Johnson; and daughter Ariana (Johnson) McBride and son-in-law Ryan McBride; her four granddaughters Bridget, Maggie, Andrea and Claire; former husband Richard Johnson; sisters Sylvia (Bonard) Curry and brother-in-law Morton Curry; and Jeannette (Bonard) Denning and brother-in-law Philip Denning; as well as many nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be on October 26 from 4-7PM at Avery-Storti Funeral Home ,88 Columbia St, Wakefield, RI. A celebration of her life will be held on April 29, 2017 at 5PM in the North Club Beach House, 79 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett, RI 02882. http://clarajohnsoncelebration.weebly.com/ In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders. While Claras physical body has left this Earth, her spirit will live on with all who knew and loved her.