Clara Quijano

Clara Quijano, aged 89, died peacefully on August 18, 2017, at Hill Country Care Nursing Home in Dripping Springs, Texas. Clara was born February 25, 1928, in El Reno, Oklahoma, the daughter of Candido and Petra Ortega.

As an adolescent, Clara and her siblings moved to Mexico City, Mexico. Clara taught English to others while learning to speak Spanish. Consequently, she became fluent in both English and Spanish at a young age. With her skill as a bilingual speaker she secured a job as an operator for the telephone company, where she worked for many years.

While in Mexico she met and married David Quijano. They moved to Houston, Texas where she worked for several physicians as a bilingual assistant. She worked and raised four children. She instilled in each of her children a strong work ethic and a love for flowers and nature. At one time in her life she had a green house and grew native and exotic flowers. She persevered through many challenges with strength and dignity.

Clara is preceded in death by her parents, her partner of 49 years, Willie Frances Stout, and one sister and one brother. She is survived by her sister, Lucy Aguilar, and her four children: David (Carla), Martha (Alison), Robert (Gina), and Rachel. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Erica, Nickolas, Audrey, Julee, and Joseph as well as twelve great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Hill Country Care Nursing Home and the Hospice Austin Team. Their dedication and compassionate, loving care for our mother provided us with invaluable support during her life-limiting illness.

A Visitation will be held at 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, Austin, Texas. Graveside Service will be at 2:00 P.M., August 24, 2017, at Brookside Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77039.