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Claire Bagley Obituary
Claire Fotheringham Bagley passed away on November 12, 2009 in Aptos. She was 86. Claire will be greatly missed by her three sons, Craig Bagley and his wife Michelle, Scott Bagley and his wife Mary Dixon, and Shawn Bagley and his wife Marjetka; her five grandchildren, Olivia and her husband Jonathan Ingram, Shawn Bagley and his wife Misti, Jennifer Bagley and her husband Shaun Zink, Allison Bagley, and Erin Bagley; and her four great-grandchildren, Moira and Jesslyn Zink, and Christian and Halle Bagley.
Claire Belle Fotheringham, a third-generation Californian, was born on December 23, 1922 to William Byron Fotheringham and Clara Ingeberg Petersen. She was raised in the Byron/Brentwood areas of Contra Costa County, graduating from Stockton HS in 1940. After spending the war years in Stockton working for Bell Telephone and the Army Air Force Depot, Claire moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. There she met and married John "Jack" Woodhouse Bagley and raised three sons.
Claire loved her years in the 1960s working with children and teachers as a school secretary in the Cupertino School District, where she met many lifelong friends. Claire moved to Santa Cruz in 1967, where she worked as an Eligibility Supervisor in the Santa Cruz County Social Services Department until her retirement in 1979 to care for her elderly mother. Claire spent her retired years devoted to her family.
Claire maintained a lifelong commitment to a positive spiritual outlook, receiving a Bachelor of Religious Science Degree in 1955. In Santa Cruz, she was a member of the Branciforte Business and Professional Women's Club and the National Women's Political Caucus of Santa Cruz County.
Claire loved gardening, begonias, reading, writing letters, traveling, walking in her neighborhood talking with her many friends, and enjoying the beach. Claire was admired as a warm and caring person, a sparkling wit, and a dedicated friend. She spent her final years living with her son Scott and his wife Mary, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Following an intimate family service, friends and neighbors are invited to share memories with Claire's family at her home on Sunday, December 6, from 2 to 4 pm. For details, call 831-688-4726. If desired, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Santa Cruz, 1777 Capitola Rd. Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Claire Bagley
1 Entry
Karen Hunter Nicolaou
June 18, 2023
Hello, I am the daughter of June Lampman Hunter, my Mom was a long time dear friend of Claire's. I admired their close friendship that lasted over 60 years and remember them laughing for hours as they both reminisced about the dances they attended during the war in the 40's at the Air Force Base in Stockton. As witty and charming young women they remembered keeping the pilots flying day and night laughing and having fun before flying off to war which they said was a very hard time for our young men, many of which never returned. But as Capricorns they were also serious counsel and comfort to one another in such uncertain times. I have a picture of your mom as a young women with your father and would love to mail it to your family. With found memories of your mom who was a special lady, my late, but heartfelt condolences.
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