Claire Ann Thomas Hudman

March 28, 1932 - April 12, 2016

Claire Ann Thomas Hudman, age 84, passed away on Tuesday April 12, 2016 at home in Orem Utah surrounded by her daughters. Claire was born on 28 March 1932 in Lisbon Portugal to Jessie Theodore and Lois Jane Adams Thomas while on their way to serve as missionaries in Mozambique Africa. She Met and married Lloyd Eugene Hudman, an Air Force serviceman while she was attending the University of Alabama. They were married Feb 29, 1952 in Tuscaloosa Alabama. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Swiss Temple on the 21st of September in 1956. Claire Ann was delivered by her Father, a doctor. Her first four years, she grew up in Africa, learning the language and sometimes interpreting for her parents. The small family cruised home on the Queen Mary and settled in a farm community in Florence, Kansas where her Father started a small country practice. Unfortunately, she lost her mother at the age of five. Claire Ann spent time between nurturing relatives and home during this time of her life. Her cousin Jean Ann became like a sister to her. Reading and music comforted her during periods of loneliness. Fishing trips with her Father helped them draw closer. Claire Ann played Bassoon and Contra Bassoon in high school and the University of Alabama where she met and married Lloyd Eugene Hudman. Soon after their marriage Claire joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints serving in a variety of callings including, sewing roadshow costumes, serving as a camp counselor (even though she was deathly allergic to poison ivy and hated camping), and a church service mission in the Brigham Young University Family History Library. During Lloyds time in the service they spent 4 years in Italy, learning Italian and falling in love with the people and the culture. After Lloyd’s discharge from the service, the couple attended the University of Utah together where Claire earned her B.S. of Social Studies and Library Science. She served as a librarian in Granite High school in SLC, Utah, DaSota Junior High in Kansas and Shelly Elementary School in Utah Valley where she used her creative and artistic skills to bring the joy of reading to the children. At home, she often had her four girls cuddled around her to listen to a book. After supporting the family while Lloyd got his PHD in geography at Kansas University, she took courses in Family History and spent many long hours re-searching her family history in the United States and in her European travels with her husband. Claire and Lloyd had many adventures as they traveled throughout the world, ever learning about cultures, arts and people. Claire Ann Hudman Loved serving her family and the Lord. She loved Learning. Her interests included reading, music, arts, sewing, travel and language. She used her talents to enrich the lives of others. Survived by: Brother-in-law: Warren (Karma) Hudman, daughters: Valerie (Brent) Bloomfield, Debbie (Paul) Kavanaugh, Holly (Robert) Petersen and Wendy Hudman: 8 grandchildren; George Raber, April Keller, Lloyd Raber, Heather Bloomfield, Bridget Larson, Branick Petersen, Kyle Petersen and Colton Petersen and 18 great grandchildren all of which blessed her life. Preceded in death by: Her sweetheart and eternal partner Lloyd E. Hudman on 15 Aug 2009. Gratitude: Claire Ann wrote: Upon reading a chapter from Elaine Cannon’s “Life One to a Customer”, which tells of retrospective thoughts about debts owed through life experiences and relationships, I thought of my life and the “Debts I have to Pay”: To my father and mother for my very life. To my father for insisting on a full education for me. To my grandfather Adams and my mother for examples of faith in Christ, and basically for my testimony. To my mother-in-law, Ruth, who accepted me into the family and loved me as a daughter. To my daughters who have taught me how to be a mother and are still teaching me many beautiful lessons as they raise their families. To my grandchildren for their unconditional Love and for helping me to remember to be an example. To my cousin Jean Ann who is like a sister to me and gives me ties to my Thomas family and traditions which are so important to me. To my grandparents, aunts and uncles who taught me warmth and acceptance, each summer as I was sent to visit. To my Aunt Esther who kept me during the year when my father was getting his training in psychiatry and gave me a mother’s love. To Maria Cozzalino who loved us and gave us the mothering and grand mothering we needed to learn to love Italy and Italians. To Mrs Keech who let me “help” her in her one room library in the little town (Florence, Kansas) where my father was a country doctor. To Mary Jane Hair who reminded me how much I liked libraries and gave me direction in college. To Dr. Sue Harry who inspired me to work in the education framework. To Hattie Knight who had faith in my abilities to earn any master’s degree in Library Science. To David Pratt who opened up the world of Genealogy to me and gave me the opportunity to research for my progenitors who are so special to me. To Gardner Snow who taught me to use creativity in teaching. To Grace who taught me how to work. To JoAnn and Darrel Hanson and Claire and Marianne Draper who have shared their companionship with Lloyd and I throughout our married Live and have been as a brother and sister. To many friends and neighbors who have welcomed me and my family to each home we have made. To all the teachers in all the auxiliaries and all the testimonies we have shared from all the ward members we have known. To each prophet living and dead for their guidance and example. Finally to my husband for his years of devotion, mental, spiritual, and physical support and encouragement for me to develop my best self and especially for giving me the gift of the gospel in my life. I love you. Viewing Thursday April 21, 2016 from 6pm to 8pm 481 E Center Street, Orem Utah – Cascade First Ward Graveside Ceremony: Friday April 22, 2016 2pm Orem Cemetery - 1520 North 800 East Please share memories and condolences at www.serenityfhs.com