Claire Margaret (Rutherford) Graham

Claire Margaret (Rutherford) Graham was born February 4, 1920 in Paris, France to Victor & Hortense Antoine. She died August 17, 2016 at Heritage House in Grants Pass.

Claire remained in Europe until 1950 having lived in Paris through World War II and the Nazi occupation. In 1946 she joined the United Nations (U.N.R.R.A.) working in France, Holland, and Germany, helping with the relocation of displaced persons and the voluntary repatriation of some of them behind the Iron Curtain.

In 1950 she married Thomas Rutherford with whom she spent two years in Saudi Arabia, working with Aramco. She and Tom settled in the United States in 1953 where their son, Alan was born. Tom and Claire separated in 1967. She was working with an affiliate of Chevron. In 1970 she married Orval Graham of Palmdale, California. In 1973 she was admitted at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California where she earned an Associate in Science degree in Allied Health and Nursing. She worked in this profession until 1998. In 1989 Claire and Orval moved to Bakersfield, California, Orval’s native town, which Claire loved so much. She moved to Grants Pass in 1998 after Orval’s demise to be near her family, but always grieved for Bakersfield for it’s mild, no wind climate and its luminous sunny early mornings.

Claire enjoyed some traveling, reading, classical music and discussions of current and international events and controversial subjects.

She is survived by her son, Alan Rutherford and wife Susan of Grants Pass and their children, Marisol Rutherford of Cape Canaveral, Florida, Andres Rutherford of Grants Pass, Richard Bush and wife Theresa of Grants Pass; Rebecca and Robin De Bellis of Grants Pass; Kirsten and Garrett Pottmeyer of Grants Pass and Roberta Graham of Waco, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Andre.

Her most recent loss was Mr. Cat, her beloved pet for 18 years.

Private services will be held. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.