- Date Of Birth: August 10, 1952
- Date Of Death: October 22, 2015
- State: Arizona
Claire Jane Nelson West of Flagstaff, age 63 passed away Thursday, October 22, 2015. Claire was born on August 10, 1952, in Winslow, Arizona to John Robert and Emma Jean (Babbitt) Nelson, the third of three daughters.
Claire graduated from Flagstaff High School in 1969. In 1970 Claire married Kenneth West and moved to Tucson. They had two daughters, Stephanie Iolene and Melanie Elizabeth. Claire graduated from the University of Arizona in 1975 and her law degree in 1979.
The family moved back to Flagstaff in 1981 and Claire’s door was always open. Friends and family knew that there was coffee always brewing and she had time for anyone who showed up on her doorstep. She gave her time, energy and love to help everyone she knew, often helping those she knew would be otherwise be overlooked. She taught her daughters to always be generous, be kind and make time for those who need you.
Claire was an avid and passionate reader with a love for knowledge. Claire was a go to person for family and Flagstaff history. She was a teacher to all. If you had a question for her, you were sure to get a thorough and educational answer.
Claire had a love affair with the outdoors of Northern Arizona, and shared that with her family. She completed a rim to rim hike with her mother Emma Jean and sisters, Jeanie and Mary Phyl. Claire was described as “umbilicaled” to the peaks, her mountain in Flagstaff.
Claire was predeceased by her father John Robert Nelson and her older sisters Jean Elizabeth Nelson Hansen and Mary Phyllis Nelson Simpson, grandparents Viola and Joe Babbitt, and Axel (AB) and Elsie Nelson. She is survived by her mother Emma Jean Bader, her children; Stephanie Erickson (Michael) and Melanie Dorn (John), grandchildren; Elizabeth Claire and David Michael Erickson, Emma Beatrice and James Raymond Dorn.
