Clair L. Childress, 87, of Kimball, died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins, Colorado on Friday, February 11, 2011.  Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Kimball with Father Robert Karnish officiating.  Burial will be held in the Kimball Cemetery with military graveside honors preformed by Kimball VFW Post #2243.  A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m.  Memorials have been established to the Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund.   The services for Clair have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Clair LeRoy Childress was born in Orleans, Nebraska on February 26, 1923, the son of Ida Childress.  He was raised and attended school in Orleans.   He enlisted in the United States Army on May 8, 1943 and served his country during WWII.  He was honorably discharged on January 31, 1946.  He moved to Rhode Island and worked in construction.  He moved to St. Paul, NE and worked for the Debus Bread Company as a delivery person.  He was married to Evelyn Ricci on September 9, 1947.  They moved to Kimball in 1956 and Clair worked as a contract pumper in the oil field.  He retired from pumping in 1992.    He worked part time for Royal Franklin and Don Gregory.  His wife Evelyn preceded him in death on April 28, 1994.  Clair loved spending time with his grandchildren.  He enjoyed trips to the river with the  guys.  He loved to play solitare and always had a deck of cards with him.  Clair also enjoyed traveling.

Survivors include his companion Crystal Straube of Ft. Collins, CO; sons John (Deb) Childress of Pine Bluffs, WY., and Jim (Jackie) Childress of Cheyenne, WY; daughter Jody Hardin of Kimball; grandchildren Lisa Loeffelholz, John William Childress, John Todd Hardin, Christopher Scott Hardin, Kelvin Childress, Lexi Linn Childress; great grandchildren Alex John Loeffelholz, Katlyn Loeffelholz, Madisen Childress and Dalton Childress.  His mother Ida, step-father Charlie Young, wife Evelyn, brothers Perry and Bud and sisters Toots Steadman and Pat Kuhl preceded him in death.