Claire Rose Keith

1918 - 2011

Long-time Eugenian Claire Rose (O'Farrell) Keith died July 20, 2011, aged 92. A Celebration of her Life will be held on what would have been her 93rd birthday, Saturday, August 13, 2011 at the Veteran's Memorial Building (Vet's Club), 1626 Willamette St., Eugene, at 1:00 p.m.

Claire was born and raised on a farm near Custer, Michigan. She graduated from Scottville High School, earned her teaching certificate from County Normal School in Ludington, MI and attended Central State Teachers College in Mt. Pleasant. She taught at one-room, multi-grade schools in Mason County. During WWII she worked as a machinist at United Air Lines Transport in Chicago, and in Long Beach, CA at Douglas Aircraft. After the war she taught at San Clemente Grammar School. It was also in San Clemente where she met her future husband, Jack Keith.

Jack and Claire married on June 28, 1948 in Long Beach and started their family with twin girls, Marie and Claire Jr., and four more children in short order. In 1962 the family moved to Eugene, OR, where Claire was a stay-at-home mom, devoted to raising her children. She shared her love of nature, especially of wildflowers and birds, with family, friends and her groups of Bluebirds and Camp Fire Girls.

In 1968 Claire earned her Real Estate License and worked in real estate in Lane County for many years. Jack and Claire started a maintenance company in the 1970's, working at Eugene businesses for 20 years. In 1984 their purchase of Joe's Second Hand store in Springfield allowed Claire to turn her passion for garage sales into a paying business. Unfortunately, Jack became very ill in the late 80s; Claire nursed him with dedication and courage till his death in 1991.

Claire's love of travel took her all over the world, but Hawaii remained her favorite place; even at age 88 she could be found enjoying the ocean and beaches of Maui with her children.

Claire is survived by her sister Margaret Broderick of Chicago and by her six children: Marie, Claire Jr., Colleen, Maureen (son-in-law Marty), Brian and Peggy (son-in-law Dale); by grandsons, Jack and Ryan, many nieces and nephews, and by many others who thought of Claire as "Mom."

Through the years Claire supported several charities in Eugene. In lieu of flowers, donations to one of her favorite charities, the Eugene Mission (PO Box 1149, Eugene, OR 97440), would greatly honor her loving and generous spirit.

Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy