Claire Louise Wilson, 62
Claire Louise Wilson, 62, passed away Feb.10, 2008, after a courageous 13-year battle with brain tumors. At the time of her death, she was surrounded by her beloved family and pets at her ranch in Bigfork.
Claire was born June 5,1945, in Johnstown, Pa., and moved to Phoenix with her family when she was 2 years old. She attended high school in Flagstaff, Ariz., and graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1965.
That same year, she married her high school sweetheart, Larry Wilson. Their sons Mark and Brian were born in 1968 and 1973. Claire and Larry raised their family in Arizona until moving to Whitefish in 1984. Since 1992, they have lived in Bigfork, where Claire had a tremendous passion for raising cutting horses at her River Bend Ranch
Claire was an advisoryboard member of the Montana Land Reliance. She loved Montana and had a special fondness for the grizzly bears. She so appreciated the Montana Land Reliance for its efforts in protecting the open spaces and key animal habitat. Claire was a devoted animal advocate, and with her donation to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, she made possible the Charlotte Edkins Animal Adoption Center, named in honor of her mother, Charlotte Edkins.
Claire was also a former board member of the Maricopa County Humane Society in Arizona and a devoted supporter of the humane society in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, where she lived in the winter. Her love for animals and her desire "to protect those who cannot protect themselves" is just one of her many legacies.
While it would be impossible for Claire to choose her "favorite" animal, for she loved them all, she had a particular soft spot for bears. She once hosted a sow grizzly bear and her two cubs at her home in Bigfork to keep them out of trouble until it was time for them to go back into the mountains to den.
She adored nature and the outdoors. Claire loved sharing her favorite hiking trails in Glacier National Park with her family and friends and riding horses at her ranches. In the past few months, when she was no longer able to hike or ride, the view out her window of the beautiful mountains, deer, eagles and occasional bear, sustained her.
Claire is survived by her husband, Larry; son, Mark Wilson and his partner, Brandi Guild, as well as two grandchildren, Brooke and Casey Wilson of Bigfork; son, Brian Wilson and his partner, Charles Ramsey, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; sister, Carolyn Bower and her husband, Brad Bower, of Boise, Idaho; niece and nephews, Caitlin, Scott and Nick and his wife, Caitlin Revell; and father, Don Edkins and his wife, Connie. Claire also leaves behind her beloved dogs, Jennie, Sadie and Lucy.
Claire was preceded in death by her mother, Charlotte Edkins.
Claire's strong, yet gentle nature and sparkling blue eyes will be missed by those who knew and loved her. Her family will miss her so deeply, as will all the earth's creatures great and small.
The Wilson family wishes to thank the kind people from Kalispell Regional Medical Center for their dedication to keeping Claire comfortable during her final months. They also want to thank all of their friends who have so lovingly stood by them during this ordeal.
Everyone is welcome to help celebrate Claire's life 10 a.m. Feb. 27 at the River Bend Ranch in Bigfork.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Capital Fund Campaign of the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, 3499 U.S. 93 N., Kalispell, MT 59901.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.