Clara Marie Richmond

Clara Marie Richmond, 72, was called to Eternal Life in the early morning hours on Mardi Gras Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in Spring, Texas, following heart complications. A devoted wife, kind-hearted mother, loving grandmother, and faithful friend, Clara always bloomed where she was planted with child-like trust in her Savior Jesus Christ.

Clara was born on May 27, 1953, in Douglas, Arizona as the first daughter of Felicia and Rodolfo Figueroa. She was cared for by her grandmother Aurelia Rodriguez until the age of seven when she moved to Tucson, Arizona to live with her mother and stepfather Ramon Robles. There she attended her beloved Villa Carondelet, the first Catholic school founded in Tucson and run by the Sisters of St. Joseph, until its devastating closing at the end of her 8th grade year, leading her to finish her lower education at Salpointe High School, class of 1971. Throughout her youth, she was a talented ballet dancer and musician, an active choreographer for various theater programs, and she joyfully volunteered her creative talents to support and mentor Tucson youth.

As an undergraduate in Education specializing in Deaf Studies at the University of Arizona, Clara shared her love for God and her artistic talents at St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center where she caught the eye of the faith-filled, sincere, and soft-hearted Grant Lee Richmond who became the love of her life. The soulmates were married soon after graduation on June 7, 1975, at the Newman Center and began their married life in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they lived for 14 years as parishioners of St. Mary’s Catholic Church— as leaders of Music Ministry and where Clara started the music and theater programs—before moving with their four children to New Orleans, Louisiana in the winter of 1989. At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish Clara was active in the Music Ministry and the school as both a teacher’s assistant and a volunteer, most notably with the Rainbows for All Children program as a grief support group leader for youth dealing with loss from death, divorce, or trauma. The family moved to Spring, Texas in 1997 and were active members of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church for many years. After the death of her beloved Grant in June 2007, Clara found consolation and support especially from her widowed friends who understood her abysmal grief and with whom she had shared many Masses and Rosaries, hours of adoration, and Kroger breakfasts.

For the last two years, Clara was blessed by wonderful new friends at the welcoming and active community of The Village at Gleannloch Farms, as well as by those old friends and family who visited and kept in touch with her over the years.

Clara was preceded in death by her husband Grant, her parents, her brother-in-law Scott and his wife Mary, and her nephew Patrick. She is survived by her 4 children: Grant Aaron, Marie Elena, Jonathan, and Valerie; one son-in-law, Fernando E. Romero; one daughter-in-law Maria Cecilia Richmond; 12 beloved grandchildren: Joaquim, Micaela Bass, Xavier, and

Isaac Richmond; Clara, Juan, Rafael, and Agustin Romero; and Athena, Lana, Grant, and Evelyn Richmond; sister Valerie Dane, husband John and their children; brother Jonathan Robles and his children; brother-in-law Robert H. Richmond, Jr. and wife Marian and their children; children of brother-in-law Scott and wife Mary; and many dear extended family and friends.

Clara’s children would like to thank all those who have demonstrated their loving concern, support, and prayers.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 5, with a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, Texas. A reception will follow in the social hall with a light lunch and fellowship.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Clara’s name be made to Rainbows for All Children or the Houston Coalition for Life.