William Thomas 'Bill' Clair
July 9, 1936 ~ December 22, 2011
William Thomas ‘Bill’ Clair, age 75, of Montrose, passed away Thursday evening, Dec. 22, 2011 at Valley Manor Care Center in Montrose. He was born July 9, 1936 to Walter Edwin and Susan Alice (Ross) Clair in Denver, Co. Bill always said his childhood was wonderful, raised in McCoy, Co., on a ranch. There he was raised and received his education. He went onto college at Red Rocks Community College in Denver. He worked on the oil rigs, and the railroad for Armored Motors and Wells Fargo, but his career for 40 years was as a truck driver, which he enjoyed doing. He married Leslie Lea Jackson on Sept. 15, 1968, and raised eight children and shared 43 years together. Bill and Leslie moved to Montrose in 1998 from Thornton, Co., where they made their home until Bill’s time of death. Bill never met a stranger, and was generous, almost to a fault. His greatest loves were God and his family. A favorite past time of Bill’s was spent reading, listening to music and getting together with family. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing. Bill fought the good fight, overcoming polio as a child, and up to his last illness.
Surviving family members include his wife, Leslie of the family home in Montrose; sons, Edward Clair of Denver, Paul (Jennifer) Clair, Curtis (Melissa) Clair all of Thornton, Franklin (Sarah) Clair of Littleton, Co., and Jonathan Clair of Montrose; daughter Sandra (Mark) Friess of Commerce City, Co; 18 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by two sons, Bill Jr., and Don Clair, parents, brother Dave and sister Rosemary.
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Crippin Funeral Home chapel. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Christ’s Church of the Valley on East Main St., in Montrose with a visitation from 1:00pm up to the service time at the church. Place of interment will be at Grand View Cemetery, west of Montrose. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Co.
