Louella "Jean" Claiborn (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Louella “Jean” Claiborn, daughter of Harley S. and Nelle Pauline Helms and step-daughter of Erna Helms was born June 1, 1934, at Camdenton, Missouri, and departed this life February 6, 2021, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-six years, eight months, and five days.
On June 22, 1952, she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Paul “Dean” Claiborn. They had fifty-nine loving years of marriage and two daughters before his death August 7, 2011.
Along with the passing of her husband and parents, Jean was preceded in death by four sisters, Helen McLeod, Mildred Miller, Virginia Deering, and Bernadine Randall; and a son-in-law, Scott Bonacker.
Jean is survived by two daughters, Deborah Bonacker of Rogersville, Missouri, and Deanna Christensen and husband, Clarence, of Montreal, Missouri; three grandchildren, Leslie Bonacker, Alex Christensen, and wife, Rachel, and Nick Christensen; six great-grandchildren, Preston, lan, Brooklynn, Colten, Corbin and Maxton; one sister, Geraldine McGuire of Kansas City, Missouri; and several nieces, nephews, and a cousin, as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
Jean was raised in Camdenton, Missouri and graduated from Camdenton High School in 1952. After she and Dean were married they made their home on a cattle farm near Camdenton. Jean was with her husband as he served his country in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957 in Fort Lewis, Washington. After they returned to Camdenton, Jean worked for Jeffries Abstract Office and Dean became a Real Estate Broker. He joined his father-in-law's realty business to become Helms and Claiborn Real Estate with Jean as secretary for many years. Along with cattle they raised Registered Missouri Fox Trotters, with many of them being shown in Ava, Missouri. While Dean was the hands-on horseman Jean also loved them and always supported him. They made many friends through this adventure from across the United States and Canada.
After retiring from Real Estate, Dean and Jean moved to the farm at Macks Creek in 1979, then to the Rogersville and Springfield area in 1991. Because of Jean's love for roses Dean made each place a home with the beautiful roses he grew for her. Jean made her mark on the world with her loving kindness and hard-working ethics. For many years she was an active member of the Linn Creek Methodist Church, a Past Grand Noble and District Deputy President of the Linn Creek Rebekah Lodge #464, active in the Camdenton P.T.A. and the Camdenton Saddle Club, along with room-mother, event volunteer, and taxi for two daughters. She also enjoyed traveling. Jean was a loving, wonderful caregiver for Dean through his many health problems over the years. Thanks to her determination and those hard-working ethics she had success with many health issues of her own.
Jean was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and a caring friend and neighbor. She was always ready to help in any way she could, and always with a smile. As we celebrate her life she would want to be remembered with us smiling back at her.
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