Claire Marie Byerrum, beloved daughter of Myrtle (Cain) and Thomas Somers, beloved mother of Carey, Mary, Robert and Elizabeth, passed away Friday, December 21, 2018, at the age of 94. Claire was born in Ivesdale, Illinois, on her family’s farm, and attended a one-room schoolhouse and later Monticello High School, where she graduated at the age of 16. She then attended the University of Illinois in Champaign for two years. There, she met the love of her life, Richard, a PhD student. After Claire and Richard married in 1944, they moved to Chicago, where she worked for the Manhattan Project, and he worked as a military scientist. After the war, they moved to East Lansing, Michigan, where Richard worked as a biochemist at Michigan State University, eventually becoming the Dean of Natural Science.
Claire was instrumental to Richard’s professional success. She was community minded, the consummate hostess, and had boundless energy for causes she believed in. She was involved with the Lansing Symphony Association, serving several terms as President; Faculty Folk, the East Lansing Women’s Club, the East Lansing Planning Commission and was one of the most enthusiastic fund-raisers and boosters of the nascent Wharton Center for the Performing Arts. She was a regular attendee of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Claire was at heart a kind, generous and funny woman. She had a dry wit and was an excellent conversationalist. She loved attending concerts, plays and other performances and would often host artists for dinner or offer a room if they needed a place to stay. The parties at the Byerrums’ house were the stuff of legends.
Claire is preceded in death by her husband, Richard, and her children, Robert and Mary. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth and Carey (Joe) and her grandchildren Anthony, Christopher (Jennifer), Kathleen (Peter), Michael (Jenna), Peter (Rachel) and Alexander as well as her 7 great grandchildren.
Visitation with the family will be from 6:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, January 3 and from 5:00-6:00 pm on Friday, January 4 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes East Chapel in East Lansing. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in East Lansing at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 5 followed by a reception at the University Club. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.greastlansing.com
