Clare Eldon Hard, Jr. "Tupper"

Clare Eldon Hard, Jr., best known as “Tupper” was born on March 3, 1951 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Mike and Maxine Hard “Clare Eldon Hard SR and Ella Prentice.”  As a teen, he and his brother Robby and friends started up a band called “Pineapple Gravy”.  They would hold local dances in the Bonanza area where they were quite a hit with the small community before they disbanded due to life pulling them in different directions.  Tupper would graduate from Bonanza High School in 1969 and would go on to join the United States Navy. Through this journey he would work on naval ships and was honorably discharged in 1974. After his military service, he moved to the Willamette Valley where he would spend the rest of his life.  Eventually, Tupper would have a career in setting up and tearing down mobile homes before going into trucking.  He would continue in that line of work, while seeing much of the country, until he was unable.  Besides work, Tupper had many hobbies he enjoyed such as playing the guitar, golfing and gold panning. He really enjoyed the outdoors and spent some of his best days hunting and fishing.  He was incredibly skilled at using his hands and much he tried came naturally to him. Throughout his life he had great belief in God. Tupper enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.  Tupper passed away on December 8, 2019 in Salem, Oregon at age 68. He is survived by his parents, Mike and Maxine Hard; siblings; Kaye Tunnell, Robby Hard and wife Lynn, Elly Lavery, Jan Faucera and husband John, in addition to many other loved family members. A private service will be held for family members.