Claire Jeanne Johnson
Nov 6th, 2016
Claire Jeanne Johnson (Westhaver) of South Yarmouth passed away early Sunday morning, November 6, at Cape Cod Hospital after valiantly battling breast cancer for over 31 years.
Born in Milton, MA in 1936, Claire was the daughter of the late Clarence and Myrtle (Cushman) Westhaver. She graduated from Milton High School in 1954. After receiving her associates degree in Secretarial Science from Lasell Junior College, she worked in several positions eventually becoming secretary to the Operations Manager of Filene’s. She met her husband-to-be, Edward (Ned), at a young adults meeting at Parkway Methodist Church in Milton. They married in 1959. After the birth of their first, Wayne, in 1962, Claire enjoyed raising their children for several years. She reentered the workforce in 1980 after earning her Paralegal Certificate from Middlesex Community College in Bedford, MA. Claire became assistant to the Bedford, MA planning board and later, secretary to the business manager of the Concord/Carlisle Schools.
After moving to the Annapolis, MD area in 1985, Claire worked as a paralegal in several law firms until she decided to further her education. She received her degree in paralegal studies, with a minor in art, from the University of Maryland in 1991. After graduation, Claire worked as a paralegal for RTKL Associates Inc. in Baltimore, MD. In this position, she was constantly exposed to highly creative state-of-the-art architectural techniques which further enhanced her art education.
After retiring, Claire immersed herself in her art. She took classes in drawing, watercolor, acrylic, and oil painting. Claire studied and showed her art at the Maryland Federation of Art, Maryland Hall, Anne Arundel Community College, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, as well as other Annapolis galleries.
In the Cape Cod area, Claire was well known and respected for her abstract art, which has appeared in the Cape Cod Museum of Art, the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, the Unitarian Church of Barnstable,
and at the Yarmouth Art Guild’s Artist’s Paintbox Gallery. Claire was a member of the Cape Cod Art Association, Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Museum of Art and the Yarmouth Art Guild.
Claire is survived by her beloved husband and caregiver of 57 years, Edward Johnson, of South Yarmouth, her son, Wayne Johnson of Milton, MA, daughters, Cyndi Standaert of Seattle, WA, Heather Bachman of Chester, MD and six grandsons.
There will be a celebration of Claire’s life at the Unitarian Church of Barnstable on January 12, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. Memorial gifts may be made to the Yarmouth Food Pantry.