Dick Louis Clairmont

In deep sorrow, we share the news of the death of our father,grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, Dick Louis Clairmont. Dickdied on Wednesday, November 27, of a broken heart. He had lostthe love of his life, Gail, to lung cancer in August of this year. Healso had a history of circulation issues and his heart, finally, simply,just gave out. We are doubly bereft. Dick was born on January 7, 1936 in Moline, Illinois. He was thefourth child of Dorothy and Donald Clairmont. After his father died,his mother remarried and three more children were added to thefamily. Dick served in the Army from 1958 to 1960. He met hisfuture wife, Gail, in 1957, and they were married for 62 years beforeshe passed away. He worked on the Rock Island Railroad for anumber of years, serving also as an officer of the local UnitedTransportation Union chapter. He (supported by Gail) accomplishedthe incredible feat of earning an associate's degree from GovernorState University, while working full time, and parenting his children. He began working for the FederalRailroad Association in 1978, with a move to Billings, Montana, and retired from the agency as RegionalDirector in 2006 in Vancouver, Washington. Dick and Gail nurtured a family that includes daughters JulieDonovan (Tom), Lisa Greseth (Tim), Beth Clairmont (Les) and son John Clairmont (Lisa). DaughterBonnie Brookhart (Todd), "discovered" through the magic of DNA, added more love to the family.Grandchildren and great grandchildren loved dearly by Dick and Gail include Christopher, Emily,Elizabeth, Sarah, Connor, Katie, Milo, Cade, Megan, Lauren, Carolyn, Dash, Oliver, Levi, and Margot. It is always hard to capture the whole of a life well and fully lived within a timeline. To know Dick was tobe blessed with love and laughter, service and story. He loved life so dearly, and was so filled with thedesire to learn more, experience more, love on his people more. Dick's greatest love was Gail, and shewas his greatest fan, protector, and playmate. Together, they made the world warmer, more interesting,and so much more fun. Theirs truly was a love story for the ages. She is no longer lost without him, he isno longer lost without her, and our greatest desire is to keep that abundance of love lighting the way,even as we are lost without them. Dick was always questioning his relevance and meaning in these last years. We could never completelyconvince him that the love he gave us endlessly and generously was of more meaning than mosthumans ever get to experience. Dad, papa, brother, uncle, friend - we will miss you every day.We will celebrate Dick's life Friday, January 10, 4:00 - 7:00 PM (eulogy at 4:15 PM) in the ballroom at ACHotel Vancouver Waterfront (333 W Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA). All are welcome.

Dick Louis Clairmont

January 7, 1936 - November 27, 2024