Claire 'Shorty' Waugh

Claire “Shorty” Waugh, loving husband of Jean (Price) Waugh, from Earlham, passed away on October 19, 2015 at QHC South in Winterset. He was 86. A visitation will be held from 1:00 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 23, 2015 at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset, where family will be present to receive friends from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. A funeral service will held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 24 at the Church of Christ in Earlham with burial to immediately follow in the Earlham Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Claire’s honor to the Earlham Fire and Rescue Association. Richard Claire Waugh was born on August 2, 1929, the younger son of Elza Ayers and Ruth Lorraine Waugh of rural Madison County, Iowa. Claire joined his older brother, Carl, in the home near Barney. Soon, the family moved near Patterson where Claire began his schooling. When the family moved to a farm near Pitzer, Claire began his high school years at the Earlham School, where he graduated in 1946. During his high school years, he made many close friendships and loved playing baseball for the Earlham Cardinals as catcher. It was also here that he developed a love for the Earlham community and found the love of his life, Jean, who graduated in 1947. Claire and Jean were married on May 15, 1949 and remained so until his death. They settled in the Earlham community and became pillars of the community where they raised their two young sons, Steve and Doug. Claire, affectionately known as “Shorty”, was involved in many aspects of the Earlham community while working for Marquette Cement Co’s quarry near Earlham and plant in West Des Moines. He quickly learned how to operate every piece of heavy equipment and every part of the cement manufacturing and shipping process. His fellow employees elected him as their local union president and international negotiating representative. He was very proud, yet humbled, by this honor and responsibility and took it very seriously. Claire devoted much of his personal time to supporting the Earlham community as member and chief of the Earlham Fire Department, city council member, and mayor for 5 terms. He delighted in driving around town to visit with people, always with a pair of pruning shears in the back of his pickup to trim the occasional stray limb hanging down a little too far into the street. Following his mayoral service he also served as the first secretary-treasurer of the Community Center Board and as a member of the Warren Rural Water Board. He was also especially proud of creating the first EHS Alumni registry that listed graduates and addresses, by class, going back into the early 20th century. Both Claire and Jean continued their active membership in the Earlham Church of Christ with Claire eventually serving as both a Deacon and an Elder in the church leadership group. Claire and Jean loved to travel, especially to the mountains in Colorado, Yellowstone and the Tetons. They also greatly enjoyed continuing to support Earlham School activities, especially when their grandkids were participating. They were a great source of inspiration for their two sons as well as their 5 grandchildren and many neighbors and friends. Claire is survived by his wife, Jean, of Winterset; brother Carl of Adel; sons Steve (Marilyn) of Topeka and Doug (Kris) of Earlham; and 5 grandchildren, Melinda, Carly, Stephanie, Alli and Andy; along with a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He will certainly be missed by all.