Claire (Martin) Abell

Claire (Martin) Abell passed away peacefully on June 24, 2014 in Missoula.

A graveside service will be 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 28 at Mountain View Cemetery in Shelby.

Claire was born in Shelby in 1917, the youngest of seven children to Wallace and Henrietta Martin, old time pioneers.  Her father helped originate Toole County and was one of the first officers, serving as deputy sheriff for many, many years.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church and had helped with Sunday school, Bible School and sang in the Choir.  She was president of the Wesley Guild and had held all offices of her church unit, Ruth, and served on many church committees.

Claire attended the Shelby schools and graduated as salutatorian.  She loved sports and for three years played center and captain of the girls basketball team, who were tops in those days.  She was also a catcher on the softball team and won every race she was in.

In 1936 she married Leroy Abell and to this union two children were born, Terry and Robin.  They were married for 63 years.

Claire spent most of her life in Shelby, except during World War II, when they lived in Washington DC for three and a half years, where Leroy was in the Navy serving as Chief Electronic Technician and an instructor in the Radio Material School, while Claire worked in the Naval Research Laboratory there.

In former years Claire was quite active in the community.  She held all offices in her Extension Homemakers Club, was County Council President and one of the first officers of “Women’s Week”, held annually at the Montana State University in Bozeman.  A member of the Jaycee, the first Band Mother’s President and Cub Scout Mother.  She served on the Humane Society, election board and worked at the Marias Fair office and different stores in Shelby for many years.  She helped Leroy in the Radio TV Clinic, and worked several years in the Treasurer’s office before retiring in 1972.  She loved the outdoors and enjoyed traveling, gardening, camping, boating, fishing and golfing.

Preceding her in death, besides her parents, were her husband, Leroy, four brothers, Kent, Melvin, Wilbert, and Desmond, and her sisters Ruby and Garnet.  She is survived by her son Terry Abell of Long Beach, CA; a daughter Robin Koontz of Missoula and her husband Dave; two grandchildren, Jenny and Joseph Koontz; two great grandchildren; two nieces, Sharon Berwick and Husband Dean of Wisconsin and Marlene Smithee and husband Ken of Phoenix, AZ; nine great nieces and nephews and several great great nieces and nephews.