Claire Lois Howard, 95, of Anacortes, passed away at her home on Thursday, January 28, 2021.  She was born on August 31, 1925, a triplet daughter to Carl and Caroline "Carrie" (Taylor) Shapley in Big Lake, WA.  Unfortunately, Claire was the only child of the triplets to survive. She also had two twin sisters, Dorothy and Doris.  Claire grew up in Anacortes and was a very bright young lady who graduated at the age of sixteen from Anacortes High School.  She raised her four children Mike, Patty, Frank, and Karl.  She married George Howard over 62 years ago; they had been good grade school friends.  She helped to raise George's son David and loved him as her own.  Claire and George thoroughly enjoyed their time living on Cypress Island, where family would come to stay and enjoy her hospitality.  She loved to sew, knit and was an excellent cook.  Claire was a good woman, who had many friends, and she lived a good life.  She is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Carrie, sister Dorothy and son Michael Rhoads.  Claire is survived by her husband, George; daughter Patty (Geoff) Donald of Monroe, WA, son Frank (Joan) Rhoads of Sacramento, CA, Karl (Cloe) Rhoads of Anacortes, and son David (Terry) Howard of Oklahoma.  She is also survived by numerous grand, great grand and great, great grandchildren and sister Doris of Missouri.  The family will have a service sometime in August of this year around her birthday.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory Inc., Anacortes and the San Juan Islands. To share memories of Claire, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com