Claire Whaley

Claire Marie Whaley passed away on December 7, 2014 in Houston, Texas. She was born on March 29,1923, the daughter of Rollie and Elfie Blackwell, in Terre Haute, Indiana. She lived, worked and met her late husband, Hugh Gilbert Whaley, in Terre Haute until 1946. Following Hugh’s U.S. Army service in World War II, Claire and Hugh relocated to Bellaire, Texas for employment opportunities (Hugh – Terminix; Claire – Shell Oil) in 1946 where they remained their entire lives. In 1956, Hugh founded Whaley Pest Control where Claire served as the financial manager while raising a son and daughter.

Claire was an extremely active volunteer and a member of the Bellaire United Methodist Church, joining with her late husband on Mother’s Day in 1947. She was a charter member of the Gibson Class and, upon a class merger, a member of the Seekers Class. She was a member of the church’s Women’s Society, now the United Methodist Women, and served with her late husband as co-chairs of the church’s 60th Anniversary celebration.

Claire was also a member of Harris County’s Heritage Society and served in many leadership capacities for Methodist Hospital Auxiliary and its hospital gift shop operations. She also served on the Community National Bank board.

Claire was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Hugh, an infant daughter, an infant son, and her two brothers, James R. Blackwell and Mark A. Blackwell. Survivors include her daughter, Jann Whaley, her son Hugh Whaley, his wife Linda; grandchildren Tyler and his wife Kaitlin, Maddelyn, Ethann and Emma Whaley.

A memorial service for Claire will be conducted at 10:00am on Friday, December 12, 2014 at the Bellaire United Methodist Church, 4417 Bellaire Boulevard, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Light refreshments will follow. Honoring Claire’s longstanding wishes, there will be no visitation and the interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Houston chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society, or to the Houston Methodist Hospital Auxiliary.