November 29, 1929 – March 1, 2021
Claire Chamberlain Bryant, 91, died peacefully at Copper Trace Nursing Home on March 1, 2021 in Westfield.
Claire is survived by her children, Brad (wife Deena, boys, Sean and Grant), and Bob (wife Brandee, boys, Baxter, Owen, and Aiston, and girl, Joanna Claire, due this month). She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Bryant, and sister, Shirley Rathkopf.
Claire was born in 1929 in Lake Bluff, Ill., to Grant and Louise Chamberlain. She graduated from Colorado College with a degree in art and education. She married Samuel Paul Bryant, Jr. in 1957 after he called on her father’s commercial flower farm in Stuart, Fla., where they raised their two boys before later moving to North Carolina.
Claire was an accomplished artist, publishing over 100 needlework design books and founding the family business, The Berry Patch. Prior to her career in the needle arts and crafts industry she was an elementary school teacher. A truly adventurous spirit, Claire rode an elephant in Asia, a camel in Egypt and taught school in San Francisco, Hawaii, Germany, and Japan. Though afraid of flying, she was a flight attendant for United Airlines in the 1950s when a trip from New York to Los Angeles required a refueling stop. She poured herself into her two boys and encouraged them to be thoughtful, respectful, and caring young men.
She was a servant and follower of Jesus and spent many years in Bible study as well as volunteering for church youth programs and helping in the foundation of two churches in Pinehurst, N.C. Her children remember her as a kind, loving, loyal, artistic, and resilient woman who gave them confidence and support throughout their lives.
A Celebration of Life will be planned at a future date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The 500 Festival Foundation, 21 Virginia Ave., Ste. 500, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (500festival.com/foundation/donate), or to Food For The Hungry at fh.org/give.
Condolences can be sent to The Bryant Family, 4883 Snowberry Bay Court, Carmel, IN 46033.
The family would like to thank the staff and residents at Sanders Glen Assisted Living and at Copper Trace Nursing Home for their dedication, care, and love during a very challenging time.
Arrangements entrusted to Bussell Family Funerals Westfield-Carmel.