Claire Elmer

Julia “Claire” Boone Peacock Morley Elmer

 Claire, the only child of John Simeon Boone and Edith Ivey Bradley, was born September 30, 1932, in Jackson, North Carolina. She was raised in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia area, attending St. Agnes Episcopal School and Washington and Lee High School before spending two years with her parents in Japan where she graduated in 1950 from the Tokyo American School. She then attended St. Mary's School and Junior College in Raleigh before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor's degree in history and English. She was a member of the Tri Delta sorority and was the social chairman of her class. 

 Upon graduation, she returned to D.C. and worked for the CIA. After marrying, she was able to transfer with the agency to New York City while her husband attended Columbia Law School. This was a magical time in the city and she loved every minute of it. Claire had studied and trained in voice and her interest in music, dance, and the arts blossomed here as did her civic activities. She served on the boards of the Junior League, The Woman’s Exchange, Brookwood Childcare, Strang Clinic, and the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies. She was a member of the Heights Casino, The Rockaway Hunt Club, and the Atlantic Beach Club. She also learned to ski and went to a ski house at Sugarbush on weekends with friends. When she and her husband separated in 1967, she spent the next six months traveling in Europe and reconnecting with friends who resided there. 

 From 1968-1972, Claire was the assistant to the Director of Training in the International Division of Chemical Bank and also assistant to the Vice Chairman of Chemical Bank in his capacity as Chairman of the International Advisory Board. She planned the special events for this group. During this period, she also attended graduate school at New York University. 

 In 1972 she married again, moving to Chicago where she was a member of the Junior League, The Travelers Aid Society, and on the Women’s Board of The American Cancer Society. Moving back to New York City in 1974, Claire reconnected with her myriad of friends and became involved with her charitable and cultural groups while attending courses in design at the New York School of Social Research. Divorcing in 1976, Claire worked for the New York Design Firm of Fitting Interiors until her move to Miami where she was with Jeene Devane Interiors. She also resumed her travels and said she was a “Show me the plane” girl. Only a few places remained on her bucket list. 

 In 1983, she returned to New York and was a Special Projects Consultant for the Reagan-Bush New York campaign, planning and directing the Salute to Victory II presidential dinner at the Waldorf Astoria which raised over a million dollars for the 1984 campaign; supervising volunteers and coordinating political committee members. 

 Relocating again, Claire returned to Chicago in 1985 where she was Director of Membership Sales at the Lasalle Club, a private Business Men's Club. She also coordinated special events and edited the club newsletter. She was delighted to be back with her Chicago friends and resumed her membership in the Chicago Junior League and her previous board positions as well as reestablishing her arts connections. 

 In 1979, her parents moved to Cary, NC. Claire visited them frequently while furthering relationships with her Carolina relatives. As a child, she had shared holidays and vacations with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Jackson, NC and surrounding counties but years had intervened. Although her parents died in the 90s, Claire moved from Chicago to Cary in 2000 to be closer to her nearest family members. Several had already visited her in Chicago during her 15 years there. 

 Claire threw herself into her new life with her usual vigor. Following her long-standing interests in art, music, opera, and dance, she supported The North Carolina Symphony, The NC Museum of Art, The Carolina Ballet, The NC Museum of History, and The NC Opera. With the help of her family, she also joined many new ancestral groups. She served on the boards of The Order of First Families of North Carolina, the English Speaking Union, The Sir Walter Raleigh Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century, The Samuel Johnston Chapter of the DAR, and The North Carolina Society of the Daughters of the Colonial Wars. She also was a member of the Jamestowne Society, The First North Carolina Company Jamestowne Society Inc., The Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, and the Dames of the Court of Honor. She was a former member of Prestonwood Country Club. 

 She was blessed with good health most of her life, she said it was in her DNA and was thankful. Just before the pandemic, she moved into Independence Village independent living. Less than a year later, she informed her family and friends that she was moving out of independent living and getting married. In May 2021, she married Roger Elmer and moved to Hope Mills, NC where she spent the remainder of her life being loved and cared for by him. Claire loved life and her family and friends. She was a happy person, joyfully dancing her way through life and enjoying it to the fullest. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.  A Celebration of Life is being planned for Feb. 4.