CLAIRE HUSTON

Claire Elaine (Fryer) Hutson, 81, of Camp Verde, AZ (formerly of Falls City), died of congestive heart failure and went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 20, 2016. She was born in Falls City on May 10, 1934 to Mary Adams Rhoads Fryer and Eldon Lloyd Aylesworth Fryer.
    She was a Registered Nurse and graduated from St. Joseph (MO) School of Nursing in 1954. She loved being an OB Nurse, though she worked in many departments at several hospitals through the years.
    Claire was an accomplished musician and played the clarinet, piano and organ. She also had a beautiful singing (soprano) voice.
    She was a Christian and was involved in church where she often sang and played the piano and the organ.
    She lived in many places across the Midwest—Clinton, MO, North Platte, Oklahoma City, and Hill City, KS; the West—Lander, WY, and Grand Junction, CO; and in King Salmon, Kodiak, and Anchorage, AK, through the years. As her family grew, her husband’s work with the Federal Aviation Administration took them on many adventures across the U.S. After Bennie’s retirement from the FAA in Alaska, they had a few more moves, initially to a farm in the Missouri Ozarks, then returning to Lander, where they lived many more years before moving to Camp Verde, AZ, in November 2014 to escape subzero winters. She often said she was a gypsy at heart and didn’t mind moving so much.
    She was also a collector of tea pots and stories. She loved to visit and she loved to read. She enjoyed picnics, whether in a backyard, a city park, or in the mountains and loved the outdoors as long as she could go home by the end of the day; Claire preferred gardening over camping. She also enjoyed homemaking, quilting, embroidery, handicrafts and cooking, and made wonderful pies and bread. She dearly loved spending time with her family and everyone’s extended and blended families and friends.
    She was beloved by all and known for always remembering birthdays, anniversaries and holidays with personal cards and letters, which everyone will miss.
    Claire is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Bennie Lyle, whom she met when he was in the Navy and she was in nursing school; children, Matthew (Sue) Hutson, of Lander, Susan Harrington, of Anchorage, AK, Kathleen (Randy) Lussier, of Mesa, AZ, Jeffery (Kim) Hutson, of Lander, Sheila (Craig) Hutson-Thompson, of Casper, WY, Shawn (Debbie Cruz) Hutson (Major USA Retired), of El Paso, TX, and Jennifer (Ron) Cox, of Casper; 25 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; sisters, Nancy Rowland, Carol (Tom) Voyles, and Marcia (Randy) Blanton; brothers, Keith and Lynn Fryer; along with scores of nieces and nephews and all their families.
    She was preceded in death by her parents; grandchildren, Matthew Charles Hutson, Jr. and Zachariah James Rodgers; brother, Jerald “Jerry” Fryer; sisters, Jeannine Strecker, Thelma Douglas, Mary Langdon and, in infancy, Rebecca Fryer).
    Claire leaves us with a legacy of acceptance, helping others and trusting in the Lord.
    The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at Camp Verde Christian Church.
    Greers Mortuary, of Sedona, AZ, is in charge of arrangements.
www.greersmortuary.com