M. Claire Leard

M. Claire Leard, 96, of South Buffalo Township, passed into the arms of her loving Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at her residence.

Born May 25, 1921, in Kittanning, she was a daughter of the late Lawrence B. and Mabel Claire (Campbell) Grafton.

She was a faithful member of Union Baptist Church, attending all services. She could often be found in the church kitchen helping with funeral dinners or making snacks for VBS. She and her husband, Cliff, for many years, visited the sick at the hospital or in the person's home. She was a beautiful singer and always was willing to share her talent for her precious Lord. Claire formerly worked at the Kittanning Sandwich Shop. She loved spending time with her loved ones and was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. For many years, she and her husband, Cliff, would make delicious meals twice a week for their family. She loved to bowl and was in two leagues. She also enjoyed watching football and golf.

She is survived by two daughters, LaRue (Pastor Daniel) Kaminski of Freeport, and Mary Lou (George) Edinger of Freeport; her grandchildren, George (Julie) Edinger III, Stephanie Edinger, Joshua (Crystal) Edinger, Jeffrey (Wendy) Kaminski, Jeremy (Jeanine) Kaminski, and Duane (Darrah) Meier; her great-grandchildren, Kyle, Micah, Rebecca, Benjamin, Mariah, and Selah Kaminski, Shayleigh, Colvin, and Liam Edinger, and Evelyn and Nora Meier; and a sister, Wanda Ridinger of Ford City.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Ford Leard; brothers, Lawrence, Bernard, Theodore, Glenn, Richard, and John Grafton; and sisters, Jesse Grafton, Amber Shearer, Lois Lehner, and Anna Shearer.

Friends will be welcomed from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, in the Welch Funeral Home, 1032 Fourth Ave., Ford City. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, in Union Baptist Church, with Pastor Jonathan Hill, officiating. There will be an additional visitation at the church one hour prior to services. Interment in Lawn Haven Burial Estates.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of M. Claire Leard, please visit our floral store.