Vera Claudene (Simpson) Richardson passed away on Thursday, 6/23/2022 in Greeley, Colorado with her daughter Linda nearby.
Claudene was born to Bert and Fay Simpson on 9/1/1932 in Cloud Chief, OK. Her birth was premature, and she spent her first days in a shoebox near the woodstove of the family home. When she was 3, during the Dust Bowl Era, the family made their way to CA and settled in Guernsey, just outside Hanford. Bert worked at a dairy and Fay cleaned house for the dairy owner. It was during that time Claudene discovered her love of music, and the dairy owner's wife arranged for her to have piano lessons and practice time.
On 8/24/1948, she married the love of her life, PJ Richardson. They settled in Corcoran with PJ doing farm work and Claudene keeping the home and raising the couple's children: David, Michael, Claudia, Linda, and Susan. Times were not easy, but there was never a shortage of love. Tragedy struck in 1965 when Claudia passed away from complications of encephalitis.
In 1974, the family moved to Lompoc. While living there, Claudene obtained her GED, and took some college classes. She found a job with the Violence in the Family Program of Santa Barbara County. There, she counseled and assisted women who were in domestic abuse situations. She was quite proud of her time there. Claudene then worked at the business office of Lompoc Hospital. During that time, she and PJ had fun with trips to San Francisco, Filoli Gardens, Morro Bay, and other places that were on their list. They never tired of each other's company.
PJ passed in 1983 and 2 years later, Claudene returned to the Central Valley, settling in Stratford. There she reconnected with family (she and sister Jan were practically inseparable). She worked at Hanford Community Hospital's business office, from where she retired. After living briefly in Corcoran, Claudene eventually came to live with daughter Linda's family in Escondido. They moved to Greeley in 2004. Claudene found the joy of snowy winters, reading non-stop, working crossword and Sudoku puzzles, and spending time with her family. At that time, two devoted felines, Wannabe and Augie, were her constant companions. Even after a broken hip slowed her down, she did not stop enjoying life, although she did give up driving.
Reading was Claudene's passion. John Steinbeck's prose captured the essence of her childhood and she never forgot her roots; she passed that legacy on to her children and grandchildren. Her musical interests ranged from all things classical, to gospel (she had been the church pianist at the Corcoran Southern Baptist Church for several years), to Andy Williams, John Denver and Neil Diamond. She also loved the plays Camelot and Phantom of the Opera. She saw Camelot in Los Angeles with PJ, which was a dream come true for her. She also got to see Phantom of the Opera on the professional stage, attending once with grandson Mickey and once with granddaughter, Sarah. It was sheer joy to her.
But her family was her world. The best gift any of them ever gave her was their time. Phone calls, cards and letters, but best of all, just visiting and hanging out with her. She loved that. She was surrounded by photos of them in her bedroom, and they were never far from her thoughts. They were her joy. Before her health became fragile, she had opportunities to travel to see her children and grandchildren, adventures she treasured.
Claudene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, PJ, daughter Claudia, great-grandson David Germick, grandson-in-law Michael Hartley, and brother Neil.
She is survived by her sister, Jan Squire; her sons, David Richardson (Jeannie) and Michael Richardson (Beverly), daughters Linda Dolan (Paul) and Susan Richardson (Arthur Moskowitz); grandchildren Bob Richardson (Tiffany), Scott Richardson (Goldie), Mickey Richardson (Jelena), Cindy Hartley, Jonathan Richardson (Jamie), Sarah Coatman (AJ), 13 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including her beloved canine companion, Daisy.
At Claudene's request, there will be no service and interment will be private. The family asks that donations be made to the donor's local food bank or the charity of the donor's choice.
Claudene was born to Bert and Fay Simpson on 9/1/1932 in Cloud Chief, OK. Her birth was premature, and she spent her first days in a shoebox near the woodstove of the family home. When she was 3, during the Dust Bowl Era, the family made their way to CA and settled in Guernsey, just outside Hanford. Bert worked at a dairy and Fay cleaned house for the dairy owner. It was during that time Claudene discovered her love of music, and the dairy owner's wife arranged for her to have piano lessons and practice time.
On 8/24/1948, she married the love of her life, PJ Richardson. They settled in Corcoran with PJ doing farm work and Claudene keeping the home and raising the couple's children: David, Michael, Claudia, Linda, and Susan. Times were not easy, but there was never a shortage of love. Tragedy struck in 1965 when Claudia passed away from complications of encephalitis.
In 1974, the family moved to Lompoc. While living there, Claudene obtained her GED, and took some college classes. She found a job with the Violence in the Family Program of Santa Barbara County. There, she counseled and assisted women who were in domestic abuse situations. She was quite proud of her time there. Claudene then worked at the business office of Lompoc Hospital. During that time, she and PJ had fun with trips to San Francisco, Filoli Gardens, Morro Bay, and other places that were on their list. They never tired of each other's company.
PJ passed in 1983 and 2 years later, Claudene returned to the Central Valley, settling in Stratford. There she reconnected with family (she and sister Jan were practically inseparable). She worked at Hanford Community Hospital's business office, from where she retired. After living briefly in Corcoran, Claudene eventually came to live with daughter Linda's family in Escondido. They moved to Greeley in 2004. Claudene found the joy of snowy winters, reading non-stop, working crossword and Sudoku puzzles, and spending time with her family. At that time, two devoted felines, Wannabe and Augie, were her constant companions. Even after a broken hip slowed her down, she did not stop enjoying life, although she did give up driving.
Reading was Claudene's passion. John Steinbeck's prose captured the essence of her childhood and she never forgot her roots; she passed that legacy on to her children and grandchildren. Her musical interests ranged from all things classical, to gospel (she had been the church pianist at the Corcoran Southern Baptist Church for several years), to Andy Williams, John Denver and Neil Diamond. She also loved the plays Camelot and Phantom of the Opera. She saw Camelot in Los Angeles with PJ, which was a dream come true for her. She also got to see Phantom of the Opera on the professional stage, attending once with grandson Mickey and once with granddaughter, Sarah. It was sheer joy to her.
But her family was her world. The best gift any of them ever gave her was their time. Phone calls, cards and letters, but best of all, just visiting and hanging out with her. She loved that. She was surrounded by photos of them in her bedroom, and they were never far from her thoughts. They were her joy. Before her health became fragile, she had opportunities to travel to see her children and grandchildren, adventures she treasured.
Claudene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, PJ, daughter Claudia, great-grandson David Germick, grandson-in-law Michael Hartley, and brother Neil.
She is survived by her sister, Jan Squire; her sons, David Richardson (Jeannie) and Michael Richardson (Beverly), daughters Linda Dolan (Paul) and Susan Richardson (Arthur Moskowitz); grandchildren Bob Richardson (Tiffany), Scott Richardson (Goldie), Mickey Richardson (Jelena), Cindy Hartley, Jonathan Richardson (Jamie), Sarah Coatman (AJ), 13 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including her beloved canine companion, Daisy.
At Claudene's request, there will be no service and interment will be private. The family asks that donations be made to the donor's local food bank or the charity of the donor's choice.
Vera Claudene (Simpson) Richardson passed away on Thursday, 6/23/2022 in Greeley, Colorado with her daughter Linda nearby.
Claudene was born to Bert and Fay Simpson on 9/1/1932 in Cloud Chief, OK. Her birth was premature, and she spent her first days in a shoebox near the woodstove of the family home. When she was 3, during the Dust Bowl Era, the family made their way to CA and settled in Guernsey, just outside Hanford. Bert worked at a dairy and Fay cleaned house for the dairy owner. It was during that time Claudene discovered her love of music, and the dairy owner's wife arranged for her to have piano lessons and practice time.
On 8/24/1948, she married the love of her life, PJ Richardson. They settled in Corcoran with PJ doing farm work and Claudene keeping the home and raising the couple's children: David, Michael, Claudia, Linda, and Susan. Times were not easy, but there was never a shortage of love. Tragedy struck in 1965 when Claudia passed away from complications of encephalitis.
In 1974, the family moved to Lompoc. While living there, Claudene obtained her GED, and took some college classes. She found a job with the Violence in the Family Program of Santa Barbara County. There, she counseled and assisted women who were in domestic abuse situations. She was quite proud of her time there. Claudene then worked at the business office of Lompoc Hospital. During that time, she and PJ had fun with trips to San Francisco, Filoli Gardens, Morro Bay, and other places that were on their list. They never tired of each other's company.
PJ passed in 1983 and 2 years later, Claudene returned to the Central Valley, settling in Stratford. There she reconnected with family (she and sister Jan were practically inseparable). She worked at Hanford Community Hospital's business office, from where she retired. After living briefly in Corcoran, Claudene eventually came to live with daughter Linda's family in Escondido. They moved to Greeley in 2004. Claudene found the joy of snowy winters, reading non-stop, working crossword and Sudoku puzzles, and spending time with her family. At that time, two devoted felines, Wannabe and Augie, were her constant companions. Even after a broken hip slowed her down, she did not stop enjoying life, although she did give up driving.
Reading was Claudene's passion. John Steinbeck's prose captured the essence of her childhood and she never forgot her roots; she passed that legacy on to her children and grandchildren. Her musical interests ranged from all things classical, to gospel (she had been the church pianist at the Corcoran Southern Baptist Church for several years), to Andy Williams, John Denver and Neil Diamond. She also loved the plays Camelot and Phantom of the Opera. She saw Camelot in Los Angeles with PJ, which was a dream come true for her. She also got to see Phantom of the Opera on the professional stage, attending once with grandson Mickey and once with granddaughter, Sarah. It was sheer joy to her.
But her family was her world. The best gift any of them ever gave her was their time. Phone calls, cards and letters, but best of all, just visiting and hanging out with her. She loved that. She was surrounded by photos of them in her bedroom, and they were never far from her thoughts. They were her joy. Before her health became fragile, she had opportunities to travel to see her children and grandchildren, adventures she treasured.
Claudene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, PJ, daughter Claudia, great-grandson David Germick, grandson-in-law Michael Hartley, and brother Neil.
She is survived by her sister, Jan Squire; her sons, David Richardson (Jeannie) and Michael Richardson (Beverly), daughters Linda Dolan (Paul) and Susan Richardson (Arthur Moskowitz); grandchildren Bob Richardson (Tiffany), Scott Richardson (Goldie), Mickey Richardson (Jelena), Cindy Hartley, Jonathan Richardson (Jamie), Sarah Coatman (AJ), 13 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including her beloved canine companion, Daisy.
At Claudene's request, there will be no service and interment will be private. The family asks that donations be made to the donor's local food bank or the charity of the donor's choice.
Claudene was born to Bert and Fay Simpson on 9/1/1932 in Cloud Chief, OK. Her birth was premature, and she spent her first days in a shoebox near the woodstove of the family home. When she was 3, during the Dust Bowl Era, the family made their way to CA and settled in Guernsey, just outside Hanford. Bert worked at a dairy and Fay cleaned house for the dairy owner. It was during that time Claudene discovered her love of music, and the dairy owner's wife arranged for her to have piano lessons and practice time.
On 8/24/1948, she married the love of her life, PJ Richardson. They settled in Corcoran with PJ doing farm work and Claudene keeping the home and raising the couple's children: David, Michael, Claudia, Linda, and Susan. Times were not easy, but there was never a shortage of love. Tragedy struck in 1965 when Claudia passed away from complications of encephalitis.
In 1974, the family moved to Lompoc. While living there, Claudene obtained her GED, and took some college classes. She found a job with the Violence in the Family Program of Santa Barbara County. There, she counseled and assisted women who were in domestic abuse situations. She was quite proud of her time there. Claudene then worked at the business office of Lompoc Hospital. During that time, she and PJ had fun with trips to San Francisco, Filoli Gardens, Morro Bay, and other places that were on their list. They never tired of each other's company.
PJ passed in 1983 and 2 years later, Claudene returned to the Central Valley, settling in Stratford. There she reconnected with family (she and sister Jan were practically inseparable). She worked at Hanford Community Hospital's business office, from where she retired. After living briefly in Corcoran, Claudene eventually came to live with daughter Linda's family in Escondido. They moved to Greeley in 2004. Claudene found the joy of snowy winters, reading non-stop, working crossword and Sudoku puzzles, and spending time with her family. At that time, two devoted felines, Wannabe and Augie, were her constant companions. Even after a broken hip slowed her down, she did not stop enjoying life, although she did give up driving.
Reading was Claudene's passion. John Steinbeck's prose captured the essence of her childhood and she never forgot her roots; she passed that legacy on to her children and grandchildren. Her musical interests ranged from all things classical, to gospel (she had been the church pianist at the Corcoran Southern Baptist Church for several years), to Andy Williams, John Denver and Neil Diamond. She also loved the plays Camelot and Phantom of the Opera. She saw Camelot in Los Angeles with PJ, which was a dream come true for her. She also got to see Phantom of the Opera on the professional stage, attending once with grandson Mickey and once with granddaughter, Sarah. It was sheer joy to her.
But her family was her world. The best gift any of them ever gave her was their time. Phone calls, cards and letters, but best of all, just visiting and hanging out with her. She loved that. She was surrounded by photos of them in her bedroom, and they were never far from her thoughts. They were her joy. Before her health became fragile, she had opportunities to travel to see her children and grandchildren, adventures she treasured.
Claudene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, PJ, daughter Claudia, great-grandson David Germick, grandson-in-law Michael Hartley, and brother Neil.
She is survived by her sister, Jan Squire; her sons, David Richardson (Jeannie) and Michael Richardson (Beverly), daughters Linda Dolan (Paul) and Susan Richardson (Arthur Moskowitz); grandchildren Bob Richardson (Tiffany), Scott Richardson (Goldie), Mickey Richardson (Jelena), Cindy Hartley, Jonathan Richardson (Jamie), Sarah Coatman (AJ), 13 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including her beloved canine companion, Daisy.
At Claudene's request, there will be no service and interment will be private. The family asks that donations be made to the donor's local food bank or the charity of the donor's choice.
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