Lora Lea “Lori” St. Clair

Lora Lea “Lori” St. Clair, 68, made her final journey Home on January 30, 2024, with her loving husband by her side. Lori was born on September 17, 1955, to Ruth Quick Taylor and John “Tinker” and Joy Thompson. Lora married Gary St. Clair on July 15, 2004. He survives, along with her children: Heather (John) Messer of Jacksonville, FL; Holly Arnett of Lewistown; and John (Becca) Werland of Lewistown, all of whom loved her dearly. She was blessed with nine grandchildren: Meisa, Joslyn, Cody, Samuel, Joshua, James, Wesley, Caden, and Brynja. She also shared six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with her husband. Lori is also survived by her father and stepmother; her sisters, Trisha (Kevin) Endres, Jenni (Todd) Kielion, and Kelli (Jeff) Nothacker; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother Ruthie; a sister, Dawn Blunier; her great-niece, Jasey Endres; and her beloved Westie, Izzy Mae. If one word was used to describe Lori, it would be “fighter.” Lori survived a number of traumas and serious injuries in her life, but she channeled her pain into being fiercely loyal and protective of her family. Although she was tiny and fragile in the last several years of her life, she had a fighting spirit that refused to give up. At times, it seemed as though she was surviving on sheer will, determination, orneriness, and a hearty dose of stubbornness, qualities that served her well in many aspects of her life, including engaging in arm-wrestling competitions. When she wasn’t playing practical jokes on her loved ones, Lori was busy making friends everywhere she went. Her husband Gary says that her big brown eyes captivated everyone and she could get whatever she wanted. Lori was also a poet, winning awards and publishing a book of poems in the mid-1990s. In addition, she arranged and composed piano music when she was younger. Lori loved learning, and she was a whiz with numbers and math. She juggled parenting, full-time work, and college classes to graduate with her associate’s degree from Spoon River College. She then began a career in the Records department of the Illinois River Correctional Center, retiring in 2018 after twenty years of service. Lori’s son John can attest to her excellent marksmanship skills, and all her children fondly remember her “creative” casserole concoctions. She had a quick wit and a hilarious sense of humor, nearly always making funny faces in her photos and teaching her kids and grandkids to do the same. She loved her country and was especially supportive of the military, frequently sporting patriotic t-shirts. She loved to go for long drives on country roads while jamming out to hard rock or classic country, especially Johnny Cash. She blossomed in the summer and spent many nights watching storms roll in. As her life slowed down, she became more of a homebody, and she enjoyed watching John Wayne films, musicals, game shows, and Grey’s Anatomy. She was always up for a game of Bunco or Pitch. She loved feeding and watching hummingbirds, and she had an amazing green thumb. She loved pea corn salad, a spotless home, and her electric blanket. But above all, she loved her family, and that love kept her fighting even when the odds were stacked against her. Cremation rites have been accorded, and a visitation will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 10-11 a.m. at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton. A funeral service will follow immediately after. Burial will take place at Fiatt Cemetery, after which family and friends are invited to celebrate her life at the Canton VFW. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fulton County Humane Society or Fulton-Mason Crisis Services. You were the best wife, mom, grandma, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, and we’ll love you forever. Save us some spots at the Embroidery Club. Goodnight, we love you, sweet dreams, see you in Heaven.