Ida Claudine "Claudia" Perrigo

Ida Claudine Harmonson Perrigo entered the waiting arms of Jesus on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. Surrounded by her family, Claudia passed peacefully at 88 years of age. Claudia was a resident of Keller, TX and her funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of Keller at 11:30 am on Saturday, July 29, 2017, following a visitation from 10-11 am. Her earthly body will be interred at Bourland Cemetery.

More exceptional than her death, Claudia lived a long full life, marked by time invested in family and friends. She was born on April 11, 1929 in Los Angeles, California to Minnie Emily Ost Harmonson and Alva Ben Harmonson. Claudia was the youngest of five; at the time, her sisters Orlou and Jackie were 13 and 11, respectively, and her parents had lost two sons in infancy. One of Claudia’s earliest memories was of traveling by train to Denton, TX when she was three, where she lived with her mom for the remainder of her childhood.

Claudia attended Stephens Junior College and Denver University, where she received her B.A. in Elementary Education and Home Economics. It was in Denver, Colorado in 1948 that she met her sweetheart, whom she called Sandy, while they were both taking summer classes. Their affection was so sure and strong that she mailed her engagement ring back to her former fiancé, a move her family has been grateful for ever since.

Claudia and John were married in Denver on February 17, 1951, and settled in Rapid City, CO for a year. Moving back to Denver, CO was the first of many moves for the couple, who lived in 10 cities before retiring to Keller in 1998. John, a geophysicist, worked for an oil company, while Claudia taught early elementary grades in each city in which they lived. They had all but given up on children when 8 years into their marriage, Anne Harmonson Perrigo was born in May 1960. Their second daughter, Debra Sue Perrigo, was born in March 1962. Claudia and Sandy considered themselves doubly blessed.

Upon Anne’s birth, Claudia refocused her educational efforts to her own children and became a stay at home mom. Anne and Sue have fond memories of their childhood, with two affectionate and fun parents, Claudia’s full support of any and all creative endeavors, and lots of handmade clothing and home cooked meals.

Claudia resumed school teaching and became heavily involved in the ministry of her church in the early 70’s when her own girls were in middle school. She taught kindergarten at Hixson First Baptist in Chattanooga, TN for the next 20 years, where she and her family attended church. She served in a variety of areas, teaching Sunday School and a girl’s missions group, serving as a hostess for church events, and planning and coordinating weddings held at the church. She was known in her church and circle of friends as a woman of hospitality and service, and she inspired many people to be their best.

Upon his retirement in 1998, John and Claudia moved back to her father’s home in Keller, TX, where they worked hard to restore the family property. The couple made First Baptist Church of Keller their church home, and quickly became friends with everyone in the senior adult Sunday School class. Claudia was active with her friends, who often gathered together to play cards. The couple wanted their children and grandchildren to stay connected, and began meticulously planning an annual family vacation for their daughters and their quickly growing families. Passionate about children and generous to the core, they supported an orphanage in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico that was under-resourced, making numerous trips in their 70’s and 80’s to deliver supplies, groceries, and toys to the children and caregivers who live there.

Claudia never failed to show love and compassion to the people around her, gave generously, and prayed for those she loved. She is remembered most often with a smile on her face and a kind word for whoever she met. She loved having great grandchildren in her home and in her arms, even as their numbers grew and the noise and chaos multiplied. Claudia was preceded in death by her parent and siblings. She leaves behind her beloved husband, John Mark Perrigo; their daughters and sons in law Anne and Earnie Burfitt and Sue and David Salstrand; their five grandchildren Laura Beth Cuyar, Stephen Salstrand, Joshua Burfitt, Abby Mahoney, and Leah Murray; the grandchildren’s spouses; eighteen great-grandchildren and two more on the way.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests your support of the Orphanage Parque Emmanuel. Gifts can be made payable to:

First Baptist Church of Keller
In Memory of Claudia Perrigo
225 Keller Pkwy
Keller, TX 76248