Iris Claudia Dear

?Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at K.L. Brown Memorial Chapel, Golden Springs, for Iris Claudia Dear, 61, Anniston, who died Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center. The Rev. Mark Gidley will officiate. K.L. Brown Memorial Chapel directing.
Mrs. Dear was a member of the first graduating class (1966) of Anniston Academy, held a B.S. in political science, a M.S. in education from JSU and a juris doctorate from the Birmingham School of Law. She was a member of the National Coalition of Nursing Home Reform, the Alabama Gerontology Society and a trainer in the Alzheimer's Virtual Tour.
Mrs. Dear had a multitude of talents she enjoyed sharing with others. She was an avid gardener, a gifted artist, a talented seamstress and enjoyed cooking for family and friends. She was an advocate for the elderly and often spoke publicly on their behalf. She was also an animal lover, often volunteering for the Calhoun County Humane Society.
Survivors include her son, Troy Alan (Leah) Smith; her mother, Frances H. Dear; two sisters, Rita Dear Moore and Melynda Dear Martin; one niece; and three nephews. She was a very proud grandmother of two precious grandsons, Caleb Alan Smith and Cooper Reed Smith. Mrs. Dear was preceded in death by her father, Claude F. Dear.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).
The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.klbrownmemorychapel.
com.