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Claire was born on October 9, 1925, the first of eight children born to Cecil and Carol Aldridge Cossairt, Naples, Idaho.
She attended the local schools and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School during war time, when she would later comment that “there was a shortage of boys, since they were all off to war.” She went on to attend Northwestern Business College in Spokane to complete a secretarial degree, and then found employment at the offices of Ken Bush, Inc. in Spokane.
Claire met the love of her life, James Carl Godwin, at a USO dance in Spokane, and they were married a few short months later on July 20, 1947, in an outdoor wedding at the home of Mildred and Hollice Aldridge in Bonners Ferry.
They would later add two daughters to their family, Anne Godwin Regehr and Carol Godwin Hughes. Life was good with many family car trips and fun camping adventures at Cocolalla Lake.
Claire enjoyed her life as homemaker and as an employee at the Boundary County Assessor’s office and also the Auditor’s office. Later she joined Truesdell Insurance Agency and worked alongside good friends Rhona Nieland and Warren Truesdell.
In the late ‘60s, Jim and Claire purchased the downtown Bonners Ferry Texaco station, which they owned for 10 years, with Claire doing the bookkeeping for both the station and the bulk plant. During this time, she “doubled” as bookkeeper/babysitter for daughter Anne’s children. She was always there when she was needed and took great pride and joy in her grandkids.
Claire was very involved in many community activities, from volunteering as Girl Scout and 4-H Leader, to serving as president of Chapter AP PEO and Beta Sigma Phi. She worked with the Hospital Auxiliary and American Cancer Society for many years.
She also enjoyed many hours on the golf course, playing bridge, voraciously reading library books, doing crossword puzzles, gardening, canning and baking. But most of all, she loved being a grandmother to her five grandkids, Lisa Regehr Dirks and Brandon Regehr, Bonners Ferry, Amy Regehr, Burlington, Washington, and Jared Wilson and Amanda Wilson Jordan, Arizona. They all have many wonderful memories spent at her house, entertaining them with walks, games and goodies from her kitchen and garden.
Her upbeat, always happy attitude will be what people remember most about Claire. Her favorite saying was, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
Our loving and caring Mama will be greatly missed.