Clare L. Steiger passed away peacefully June 17, 2015, one week before her 97th birthday. Clare was born June 24, 1918 to Alfred and Catherine Schneckloth Shelton at the Shelton farm on the Deadman, a short distance from Pomeroy, Washington. She was the youngest child in her family of six boys and four girls. She went to a one-room country school until eighth grade. This was before school busses were available, so Clare then began boarding in Pomeroy through high school. She was salutatorian of her high school class.

Two of Clare's sisters married Koller brothers who had a friend named Bill Steiger. They invited him to a chivaree. Bill and Clare met while attending the event. They were married at the farm in 1939 with family and friends in attendance.

Bill and Clare farmed in Dusty, Hay, Usk, and finally began farming in Colfax in the fall of 1943. They thrived there so long that their road was named Steiger Road. They raised wheat, cattle and three children on that farm. The oldest, their daughter Jeanne, passed away in 1979. Their sons, Alan and Byron, live in the Portland, Oregon metro area. Bill passed away in 1987, and Clare continued living on the farm for 23 years until 2010 when she moved to Oregon to be closer to her family.

Clare was an extraordinary gardener. As a child she was her father's helper outside, and thus began her love of plants. Flowers, fruits, and vegetables made her yard a lovely place and filled her pantry. Her house, and later her apartment in Oregon, were filled with plants. It was her joy to work in her yard until she moved to Oregon where she took many bulbs and plants to transplant.

When not gardening, she could be found scrapbooking, doing prize-winning embroidery, attending Wilcox Grange (a member for 75 years), enjoying BB Club, being a 4-H leader, and volunteering as a room mother for each of her children's classes. She was a member of the County, State, and National Cattlewomen's Association as well.

Clare's Christmas ornaments decorate the trees of countless friends and family members. She was an artist with beads, ribbons, and pins, and she enjoyed sharing her talent. For many years, she spent her "inside months" of winter creating dozens of beautiful boutique ornaments to gift to her loved ones.

If you were lucky enough to be in her "family," no matter how extended, you know she loved to connect with people and stay in touch. If ever she knew one's birthday, address, anniversary, phone number, club affiliations, favorite flower, preferred color, etc., she never forgot. Long before social media, she was a hub of information.

She loved to travel and continued to do so extensively all her life. She visited each of the 50 states, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and many countries in Europe. Her last trip was to Eastern Washington three weeks before she passed away to honor loved ones in four cemeteries with flowers and to visit relatives living in Colfax, Dusty, Pomeroy, and Mayview. She lived adventurously, independently, stoically, and lovingly until the end.

Clare was preceded in death by her nine siblings, her husband Bill, and her daughter Jeanne. She is survived by her sons Alan (Sharon) Steiger and Byron (Dianne) Steiger. Her grandchildren, Laura (Celso) Pierre Duvall, Jana (David) Hoffman, Keith Steiger, and Stacey (Tim) Morgan will always remember "GG." She adored her great-grandsons, Jack Morgan, 10, and Joseph Hoffman, 8. Her numerous nieces and nephews and their families were held close to her heart.

There will be a graveside service at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 16 at the Colfax Cemetery. A reception will follow. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax has been entrusted with local arrangements.