Obituary of Claire King
CLAIRE KING
In the early morning of April 3, 2014, six weeks shy of her 81st birthday, Claire peacefully went to what she always affectionately called “the great library in the sky.”
Born in Regina on May 17, 1933 to Alfred Miller and Isabella (Robertson) Miller, Claire was the youngest of two siblings. She lived and worked in Regina until 1960, when she relocated with her husband to North Portal, where they raised their seven children and lived a happy life together surrounded by family and friends. In 1990, Claire returned to Regina and charmed all who met her with her kindness, generosity and self-deprecating humour.
In Regina, she was the self-proclaimed “queen of the bus lines,” making daily trips to the Regina Public Library, voraciously reading her way through the entire collection of letters, diaries and histories. Through her reading and through classes at the University of Regina’s Seniors’ Centre, Claire never stopped learning, and always maintained an active interest in the lives of others. She met many friends through her attendance at various Catholic churches in the city, and particularly enjoyed her years spent living at the Cathedral Courts building on 13th Avenue, where she spent countless hours sitting outside holding court with her fellow residents.
Claire was predeceased by her parents and her loving husband, James King, as well as her dear sisters-in-law May King and Jessie Miller, and brother-in-law Bill King. She is survived by her brother, Val Miller, and her seven children: Bryan, Ross (Melanie), Randy (Sophie Grahame), Karen (David McFadyen), Maureen (John Callaghan), Stephen (Cara Bradley) and Wendy Binns (Michael). She very much loved her six grandchildren: Finn, Ginny, Luke, Evan, Sam and William. Her nieces and nephews, especially Sharon MacLean and George King, were also very close to her heart.
A celebration of Claire’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 in the chapel (accessible via the front door of the building) at Cathedral Courts, 3225 13th Avenue, Regina, with Dr. John Meehan, SJ officiating.
Claire’s family would like to thank the owners and staff of the Solace personal care home for their kindness and compassion over the past few months.
Claire lived a good, long life, loved her family, read more books and quoted more poetry than anyone had a right to, and was proud to have lived long enough to see the Roughriders win the Grey Cup at home. She will be missed a great deal by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
The family would appreciate that any donations be made, in Claire’s memory, to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, 279 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 2H8.
