Claude O. DeGraw passed away peacefully Monday morning, October 3. He stayed in his home surrounded by loved ones. He was 80 years old.
Claude was born August 2, 1942, to Correl James DeGraw and Ruby Elizabeth (Ping) DeGraw above the Post Office in Eagle Colorado. He always joked about his initials being C.O.D. and being born above the Post Office.
His parents preceded him in death, as well as his wife Vieva (Caywood) of 56 years and two of his sisters: Beverly and Carol.
Claude leaves behind his children; Cindy (Zenon) Jarocki; their daughters Lora (Robert) Henderson and Sara Jarocki; Lisa Hyde and her sons Jacob (Tinsley) Hyde and Troy (Ashley) Hyde; Terrie (Wayne) Fischer; their children Mandy (Ryan) Crabb, Clayton (Olivia) Fischer, Barbara Ann (Cody) Diaz, and Loretta Fischer; Pete (Diana) DeGraw; son Zachary (Karoline) Roome. He leaves behind thirteen great-grandchildren, his favorite sister Betty, plus numerous family and friends who will dearly miss his sense of humor and cheerfulness.
Claude worked numerous jobs throughout his life. From cutting down trees to making, the first ski runs in Vail Colorado, to working as a cowboy on ranches from Kremmling to Buena Vista. He worked days at the lumberyard in Buena Vista as well as working in the mine at Climax in Leadville at night. He finally found the best job ever for him. He worked for Collett Enterprises in Eagle in the oil and gas business. He loved to drive around and see different people.
He loved camping, fishing, and hiking with his children and grandchildren. He would take them into the high country on adventures. As he got less active, he loved to drive any visitors around to the wild places to show them the wildlife around southern Colorado.
Claude would always help a neighbor or someone he just met that needed help, whether it was monetary or a ride to the doctor.
Services to celebrate Claude’s life will be a graveside service on Sunday, October 9 at 1:00 pm at Sunset Cemetery in Eagle Colorado. Services will be followed by a reception TBD. Everyone is welcome to come to share his or her story about Claude.
Local arrangements were made under the Comi Funeral Home.
