Services for Claire Wetherell set for Monday, Nov. 15

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Claire Wetherell, one of the most important women in the history of Mountain Home, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 7, at the age of 91.

Rose Claire Hart Wetherell passed away at a Boise care center following complications due to a recent stroke.

Rosary will be held Sunday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Mountain Home. Funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 15, at Our Lady of Good Counsel. Burial with military honors will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

Arrangements are through Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home.

A complete story on her remarkable life will be carried in this week's edition of the Mountain Home News.

A South Dakota native, she was born on Feb. 18, 1919.

She completed her nursing training at the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

With her degree in hand, she went on to serve her country as a U.S. Navy nurse during World War II and it was during that time that she met her future husband, Robert Miles Wetherell, while stationed in Bremerton, Wash.

Following World War II, she moved in 1946 to her husband's home town of Mountain Home, a community that she embraced as her own and which soon came to love her as well. Her influence on the community was so great, through her energy, willingness to tackle any job, and her grace, friendliness and sense of humor, that she became known as the "Matriarch of Mountain Home."

She worked initially as a nurse in the community, including several years as the area's primary healthcare provider following the departure of the town's only doctor.

She was instrumental in the passage of a bond that led to the 1955 construction of the Elmore County Hospital (now Elmore Medical Center), where she continued her work as a nurse. She also helped found and served for two years as president of the hospital auxiliary, which honored her with its lifetime achievement award in 2006.

A driving force behind construction of the hospital, it was only the first of the major impacts she had on the local community.

During her early years in Mountain Home, she also was the director of the USO here, and later spent 16 years on the Idaho Veterans Affairs Commission, including four years as its chairperson.

She served on numerous boards, commissions and as a member of a lengthy list of civic groups.

She was the first woman to serve as president of the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce and she helped establish the Business and Professional Women's group in Mountain Home.

Twice she served series of terms on the Mountain Home Public Library Board of Trustees, and was instrumental in helping pass the bonds that created the new library in 1976 and the remodeling of the library in 2004.

Wetherell was active in politics much of her life.

She became the first woman to serve on the Mountain Home City Council, a post she maintained for eight years, including serving as the first female president of the council.

A lifelong Democrat, during her years of leadership at both the state and local level Elmore County often voted Democratic. She was vice chair of the state Democratic party from 1962-72.

She served in the Idaho State Senate for 12 years (beginning in 1983) including service on the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee and where her late husband, Bob Wetherell, had also served (1951-52, 1955-64).

She was honored in 2010 with a rare special resolution and recognition by the state senate, which "extend(ed) to her the appreciation and gratitude of the Senate for her service to the State of Idaho, and, in particular, her service to Idaho's veterans and the legislative branch of our state government."

Claire continuously advocated for parks for Mountain Home and in 2006 she was honored with a park named for her and given a lifetime key to the city.

She was a devoted Catholic and was named the Idaho Catholic Woman of the Year in 1989. A member of the Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Mountain Home, she served two terms as president of the Altar Society. She also was a member of the Legion of Mary.

In a life filled with public highlights, behind it all she was devoted to her family. She raised four children, including her son, Dennis, and daughter Ellen, who both died prematurely of cancer.

Her surviving children include her son, Michael E. Wetherell, who is the Administrative District Judge for the Fourth Judicial District, and Robert T. Wetherell, who has been an attorney in private practice in the city of Boise since 1982. Part of her family included Jill Wetherell, wife of her late son, Dennis.

In recent years, the woman known for her vibrant energy began to slow down as her health started to fail. Her children eventually moved her to a nursing home in Boise where she was living at the time of her death.

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  • My prayers go out to all of the family. What a great lady Claire was. She was so outgoing to all that had come in contact with her. Thank You Claire for all that you have done for all of my family and for all you have done to make Mountain Home a bright place to live. And for all the memories. Rest in Peace my friend!

    -- Posted by BlackMagic on Sun, Nov 7, 2010, at 11:40 AM
  • What an amazing legacy she left to this community. Oh, if only we had a dozen Claire's serving Mountain Home now, can you imagine what bright future we would have?! Ms. Weatherall, you are a tough act to follow. Thank you for all you did.

    -- Posted by bearhunter on Sun, Nov 7, 2010, at 4:13 PM
  • Claire was increditable. I met her in 1979 and voted for her as a republician. I highly repected her and her positions.

    -- Posted by twestall on Mon, Nov 8, 2010, at 9:52 AM
  • *

    Claire was a neighbor when I was a young girl. I never knew her well, but I've lived her for 40 years, and always have known of her outstanding achievements.

    Prayers to the family, she was an amazing woman

    Jessie

    -- Posted by jessiemiller on Mon, Nov 8, 2010, at 12:18 PM
  • My prayers go out to Claire's family during this time. I personally want to thank your family for sharing her with the world. As you can see by this story she contributed a lot to the community, state and world. With out individuals like her community change would not have existed. You will be deeply missed. Thanks.

    Synergy

    -- Posted by Synergy on Mon, Nov 8, 2010, at 9:27 PM
  • a truly amazing woman, this is a true example of living an active life and pursuing your ambitions. Its people like her that make a community extra special :)

    You will be missed.

    -- Posted by MGMH on Mon, Nov 8, 2010, at 10:01 PM
  • The privelage to know and fall in love with Claire as well as her amazing family,

    the honor I felt in calling Claire my friend

    and the grief at the passing of one of the last most esteemed of public servants brings me to my knees in a prayer of gratitude for the gift of this great love.

    God speed my dear

    until we meet again

    my heart is wrapped around you and yours.

    patty

    -- Posted by percy on Wed, Nov 10, 2010, at 7:02 PM
  • As a Republican. Miss Claire was one of a few Democrats I was proud to vote for. She has taught us that we can cross party lines. Miss Claire was a classy lady, an outstanding volunteer and one of a handful of people in my live gave freely of herself to all who came in contact with her. She will be greatly miss by family and friends alike.

    Farewell Miss Claire

    -- Posted by firecat on Wed, Nov 10, 2010, at 7:50 PM
  • I don't remember a time that I didn't know Claire and I can't imagine Mountain Home without her. the legacy she left in her family, her friends and her hard work will for a long, long, time. The city is so much better for her having been there and her life should serve as an inspiration to everyone.

    God speed Claire. You have been a comfort to so many for so long. I'm sure God feels better now that you're with him.

    Mike Berriochoa

    -- Posted by berriochoa on Fri, Nov 12, 2010, at 9:50 PM
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