On the eve of July 2, 2018, Spokane lost a long-time resident who will be mourned and remembered. Claudia Kelly Longbottom went home to the Lord at 11:40pm that eve. She was born to Claude and Margaret (Becker) Kelly on February 12, 1932 in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
Claudia lived and grew up in Stevensville, Montana where she met and later married Garth Joseph Longbottom. She and her husband later moved to Spokane, WA.
Claudia was an extraordinary woman, beyond being cherished by family and her final care givers, she was an artist. She had exceptional seamstress talents, rising to the chairperson at the Spokane Hobby show for her precisely hand crafted Victorian Barbie Doll clothing. She could sew!
She had her own kiln and produced beautiful china she hand-painted herself. Her oil and acrylic paintings adorn all her children’s homes and are both cherished and shown with a sense of pride. All her art was dedicated to her faith, nature and her family. Her reward was in giving not in receiving praise.
One of the loves of her life was her time spent with family at her cabin at Deer Lake. She loved the water, walks, boating and watching her grandchildren.
As a long time PTA member, Scouts Den Mother and Tops member, Claudia touched many lives and enjoyed many friendships. This talented lady spent her life working on the things she loved for the people she loved. She cared for her ailing husband who passed in 2008 for too long but took care of him with dignity and love.
Claudia spent her final years in assisted living. After her passing, the staff shared story after story of her exploits, humor and life filled personality. They will miss her as much as any of us.
Only a special person can leave such a void as Claudia is leaving. We will always miss her.
Claudia is survived by her daughter, Marjorie (Michael) Arnold; son, Bruce (Tam) Longbottom; two granddaughters, Allison (Eric) Weidemann and Michaelyn (Jonathan) Ross; four great grandchildren, Mason Weidemann, Keegan Weidemann, Payton Ross, Emory Ross; brother, William Kelly and several nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed and remembered forever. As her granddaughter said, “My heart is broken. My Grandma left this earth and you are never ready to say goodbye. I wish I could have more time with her, but she’s now in God’s hands, in a much better place with papa who she missed every day.”
Claudia Kelly Longbottom lived her life and filled ours from February 12, 1932 to July 2, 2018.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00pm, Saturday July 14th at Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home 1306 N Monroe St, Spokane.
Graveside Service to follow at Fairmount Memorial Park.
