Clair Ann Palace

Clair Ann Palace, of Cartersville, Georgia, peacefully entered into the arms of Jesus on February 6, 2024, with her loving daughter, Vicki, by her side. She was 86.
She was born and raised in Yonkers, New York, until the family moved to New Hampshire when she was 13 to operate a bed and breakfast. It was there that Clair developed her love of the outdoors and creative talents.
She graduated with honors from Brewster Academy in 1955 before moving back to Yonkers with her family. As she began a promising professional career as the fastest typist in Westchester County, Clair met and married Richard Palace of White Plains, New York, and decided to forego a career to focus on her role as a devoted and loving mother. Whether residing in the Hudson Valley, or later, the Gulf Coasts of Texas and Florida, Clair passed on to her three children her love of family, nature, and the arts. She was a gifted painter, whose lovely oils of landcapes, flowers and birds are strikingly beautiful. Her natural gift as a writer would surface in every birthday card in the form of poetry that could put a tear of joy in your eye and a smile on your face as it warmed your heart like only a mother's expression of love can.
A lover of dancing, who could cut quite a rug, Clair had a special connection to country music, especially Johnny Cash, but surprised her family when she would sing along to just about anything playing on the radio, and, of course, the gospel hymns she loved so much. An avid gardener, her backyard flower garden was a sight to behold every spring and summer. In the winter, Clair would spend hours with a snow shovel in her hand building and grooming a toboggan run for her children while they were in school, so they could all enjoy it together.
After the family moved to Texas for a few years, Clair and Richard went their seperate ways, which resulted in a move to Punta Gorda, Florida where a wonderful new chapter began of glorious days at the beach, enjoying life's simple pleasures of searching for seashells, beautiful sunsets and warm, gentle, breezes while being surrounded by her children and their love and laughter. She was also a warm, friendly, familiar face at Gospel Gifts Bookstore in Port Charlotte, where she worked for many happy years. In 2001, Clair moved to Georgia with her daughter and her family to enjoy time with grandchildren, continuing to pass on her gifts, guidance and loving support to the new generation of loved ones; always personifying kindness, selflessness, and love.
Clair is survived by her three children: Vicki (Keith) Stevens of Cartersville, Georgia; Mark Palace, of Manorville, New York; and Scott (Angela) Palace of North Richland Hills, Texas; her sister, Patricia (Richard) White, of South Salem, New York; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, Raymond and Edna; her daughter-in-law, Sara Palace; and granddaughter, Anne Catherine Palace.
She is welcomed into Heaven by them and a host of loving friends and family. Those who love her, aspire to her kindness, selflessness and love.
A private celebration of life will take place in her beloved hometown of Punta Gorda, Florida.
"You know I'll stay close by your side through all Eternity- For a mother's love will never end, dear child God gave to me" - Clair Palace.