Claudia was born in Houston, Texas, on the 11th of August 1952, to Wayne Garland West and Frankie Russell West. She graduated from McNeese State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught Special Education, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten and retired from the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District in 2011.
She enjoyed travel, road-tripping through the United States and Europe as well as cruising Alaska, Norway, China, and Greece. Her real passion, though, was quilting. She spent long hours in her sewing room producing quilts that should be considered works of art.
As an avid reader, her favorite author was Jane Austen. She was able to visit the Jane Austen House in Chawton, UK, as well as the Jane Austen Museum in Bath. She even produced a replica of Jane Austen’s patchwork coverlet that hangs in the house in Chawton.
Claudia was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dr. Gregory West and her brother Philip Michael West. She is survived by her husband of 49 years Cliff, their children Lindsay Duke Pustell (John), Allison Elaine Duke (Raul), and Kevin Wayne Duke and granddaughter Emily Grace Pustell.
Friends are cordially invited to greet the family during a visitation at eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 16th of November, at McAdams Family Cemetery, 1251 FM 1696, Huntsville, Texas, 77230 in the Crabbs Prairie area of Walker County, Texas, where a celebration of Claudia’s life is to commence at twelve noon.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Claudia may be directed to University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas by visiting the links below under “Donations”. MD Anderson saved the lives of Claudia and her family and comforted her with dignity and compassion at her death.
