Claudette Klaas

Gloria Claudette Pee Klaas, a longtime resident of Ridgeland, MS passed away peacefully on April 19, 2025 at the age of 91.Claudette was the youngest of six children born to Annie Adams Pee and Clarence Thomas Pee in the Shady Grove community of rural Attala County. From childhood, Claudette’s faith in God was a central part of her life expressed regularly in prayer. In recent months, she often talked of a longing to go to heaven to experience God’s presence and peace and to see so many of her loved ones who had gone on before her.

She attended Shady Grove Community School for her earlier education and subsequently graduated in 1951 from Ethel High School. Following high school, she enrolled in Baptist Gilfoy School of Nursing and graduated three years later. Her nursing career included working for private physician clinics but primarily for St. Dominic Hospital. Claudette was known for her unwavering skill, kindness and generosity in carrying out her life’s calling as a nurse. At the time of her retirement in the late 1990's from St. Dominic Hospital, she was the longest tenured employee, having worked there for forty plus years.

Claudette married Fred Klaas Jr. after graduating from nursing school. They began a long life together primarily living at K-K Stables on West County Line Road . They were blessed with four children: Debbie, Frederick, Jimmy and Donna.

Claudette Klaas was a beautiful giving soul full of faith, fun, and laughter. She loved her family and friends unconditionally. Her home and kitchen were always open to her immediate family as well as nieces, nephews, and friends. She was a second mom to a lot of young people riding horses at K-K Stables. Her love results in a huge host of family and friends who mourn her passing.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband, Fred Klaas; her son, Frederick III, her son, Jimmy; her grandson, Frederick Klaas Also preceding her were her siblings, Mary Sue Pee Croft, Margaret Pee Jones, Carolyn Pee Ray, Ralph A. Pee, and Dawn Pee.

She is survived by her children, Debbie Klaas Walters (Bud) of Jackson MS., Donna Klaas Farnham (Allen) of Brookhaven. Grandchildren include Jason Walters (Tiffany), Brandon Walters (Kaylin), Jacob Stewart (Jordan), Austin Stewart, Emily Lauro (Tony), Tyler Klaas (Olivia), Amy McClendon (Lane). Great grandchildren include Landry Walters, Collins Klaas, James Klaas, Elliott Stewart, John Oliver Stewart, Kamden Walters, Porter McClendon, Anthony Lauro, and Madisen Armour. Great-great grandchildren include Laine and Blaire Armour. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews who call her blessed.

The family is most grateful to Accent Care Hospice and her caregivers, Ann West, Betty Smith, Ezella Lewis, Reesheda Duckworth and special friends and family for their loving support to Claudette for the past ten months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to your favorite charity

A visitation for Claudette will be held Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Lakewood Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 6011 Clinton Blvd, Jackson, Mississippi 39209, followed by a celebration of life at 1:00 PM.