Claudia Washburn

Claudia Mae McCluskey Washburn of Thatcher passed away on December 8, 2019, at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, after a brief illness, with family at her side. She is a native Arizonan, being born on March 6, 1942 to John R. Crosser and Doris Greer and raised in Phoenix along with her siblings John, Carolyn and Robert. Claudia married Jack McCluskey and they raised their 3 children, Richard, Kate and John "Charlie". After that marriage ended, Claudia married Jack Washburn. Claudia has lived with her daughter in Thatcher for the past 10 years when her health began to decline. Prior to that, Claudia was a successful business owner of The Outpost in Duncan, and Jakes Corner Store at Jakes Corner near Roosevelt Lake. Also known as Cookie, Liz, and Gramma, she was an avid fan of all of her children's endeavors, especially sports, even as adults. She loved babies and animals even if they weren't her own. As her dementia advanced, she would take your shoes and wear them as her own if you took yours off or drink your soda if you set it down. We are sure there are still grown men out there wondering who the woman was that would just come up to them, rub their arm, and tell them "he's a bigun" or "I'll take one of those." She is survived by her husband Jack Washburn; her children Richard (Juanita) McCluskey of Duncan, Kate McCluskey of Thatcher, and her daughter by choice, Doneilleen Isaacs of Safford; her siblings John (Phyllis) Crosser of Thatcher, Carolyn Choate of Tonto Basin, and Robert (Janice) Crosser of Yucca; granddaughter Katie McCluskey and great-granddaughter Kacee McCluskey, who lived with and helped take care of her; 4 other grandchildren Estevan Sanchez, Michael McCluskey, Amy McCarthy, and Jon McCluskey; several great-grandchildren, as well as care givers Pauline Bowler, Vicky Gonzales, and Nicole Stahl who are now family. Claudia is preceded in death by her parents; John and Doris Crosser, her son John "Charlie" McCluskey and her first husband, Jack McCluskey. There are no services planned at this time, however there will be a Celebration of Life BBQ on Friday, March 6th, 2020, at her daughter's residence in Thatcher. All friends and family are invited to stop by and enjoy food, fellowship, and share their memories of Mom. Card of Thanks The family of Claudia Mae McCluskey Washburn would like to thank everyone for their prayers, kindness, food, cards, flowers and fellowship during her time in Thatcher and her unexpected passing. Thank you to all the people who would take the time to actually listen as Gramma would ramble on in her own language. Thank you to those that would sit with her and answer her as if they understood everything she was saying. Thank you to all of the random parents we would see in the restaurants or stores who would let Cookie fuss all over their babies or small children as any grandmother would. A big thank you to everyone who would chase her down and bring her back when she wandered off, whether it was at a softball game or a community event, who would just sit and visit with her, or who would come by and take her out for a ride. Thank you to the staff at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, the Gila Valley Clinic, and Haven of Safford for doing an amazing job of taking care of mom with professionalism and patience. It is not easy doing a job when the patient cannot communicate or do for themselves. Thank you to Pauline Bowler, Vicky Gonzales, and Nicole Stahl for loving Gramma as your own and taking such good care of her. Caregivers who understand that taking care of our loved ones as family and who are HELPLESS without you ARE AMAZING PEOPLE. In this society, our elderly are often times forgotten and outcast, however in the case of Claudia Washburn, we are so grateful for the people in our lives that helped take care of her during the last five years and made it possible to keep her at home with us. We are thankful for the opportunity to have Mom at home in her last years. It will certainly test who you think you are as a person. A close friend of mine told me I would be grateful for that opportunity and she was right. I wouldn't change it for anything. In lieu of a funeral service, we will have a Celebration of Life BBQ on Friday, March 6th at Kate's residence in Thatcher. Everyone is welcome who would like to stop by, eat, visit, tell lies or just enjoy a nice March evening out with friends. Sincerely, Kate McCluskey Richard and Juanita McCluskey Katie and Kacee McCluskey Jack Washburn Doneilleen Isaacs