Clara Feagin

Lake Charles American Press, Sunday, February 17, 1963:

Sunday Morning Bouquet: Mrs. C. F. Fitzenreiter

        Mrs. C. F. Fitzenreiter, known as the "Camellia Lady" of Southwest Louisiana because of the knowledge gained by those who came in contact with her.
        "It all began long ago," she said, "when the late Mrs. Bertha Knox was home demonstration agent and the first club was formed in the city. It was Ingleside Home Demonstration club and we learned so much about plants and cuttings that we became inspired to have a beautiful garden."
        In 1927 she set out cuttings and was so successful with them that she began to give them away and sell them. Anyone who purchased one for landscaping for schools or public places were also given one of equal size.
        The plants that she donated and planted can be seen at the West Lake school grounds, two colored schools, the First Methodist church and parsonage, University Methodist, St. Luke Methodist, and Oak Park Methodist churches.
        During World War II she gave four army truck-loads of plants to Chennault Air Force base and two truck-loads to Camp Polk, personally supervising the planting of each of them.
        After Hurricane Audrey wrecked its havoc in Cameron, she sent a load of plants to the city of Cameron.
        The first circle of azaleas in Oak Grove cemetery was planted by her, and on the campus of McNeese State college also.
        She says, "There is one thing I learned about plants many years ago when I was a child in Georgia, and that's grafting."
        About 1895 it was when my father had a German working for him who knew everything about grafting and I learned from him. Why, we had pears growing on apple trees and apples growing on pear trees."
        She has placed many beautiful spots in and around Lake Charles which are sources of great pride and enjoyment to many.
        Mrs. B. M. Woodard and Miss Clara Fitzenreiter are her two daughters. She has three grandchildren.

Lake Charles American Press, May 5, 1967:

Fitzenreiter funeral rites slated today

        Funeral services for Mrs. Clara Fitzenreiter, 78, of 2133 Fitzenreiter Rd. were to be at 4:30 p.m. today in Hixson Funeral Home Chapel.
        The Rev. Hubert Gibbs, associate pastor of the First Methodist Church, was to officiate. Burial was to be in Goos Cemetery.
        Mrs. Fitzenreiter died at 5:10 p.m. Thursday in a local hospital.
        She was a native of Houston County, Ga., and had lived in Lake Charles 60 years. She was the widow of Charles F. Fitzenreiter. She was a member of the building committee when First Methodist Church was erected on Broad and Kirkman streets.
        She was active in the church's Women's Society of Christian Service, was a member of the American Cancer Society and of the American Iris and Camellia societies, and the Ingleside Home Demonstration Club.
        Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Boyd M. Woodard and Clara Fitzenreiter, both of Lake Charles; one brother, Robert C. Feagin of Houston; and three grandchildren.