Claire Dunoy

I On October 15, 2022 a beautiful and calm Saturday morning in Estero, Florida, Claire Dunoy departed this lovely planet. As someone who grew up with little material possessions, she found great pleasure in timeless things: she loved art and music and nature and words and ideas. She was a philosopher, a critic, and a teacher. And a great mom. Claire was born Clara Bell Calhoun in Leburn, Kentucky on August 19, 1942 to Vera Dyer Calhoun, a future Post Mistress in Leburn, and Eunice Calhoun, a coal miner and Navy veteran. She was born in a small house on a wooded hillside above Troublesome Creek. Many of her fondest memories were of growing up surrounded by her extended family in the isolated mountains of eastern Kentucky. She remembered the pleasure of playing barefoot on the summer grass with her siblings, cousins and friends as dusk settled along the creek. Hilariously, Claire often shared her memories of the scramble for certain Sear’s Catalogue pages at Christmas. In her youth, she came to appreciate simple home cooked mountain meals - especially cornbread and fried green tomatoes – although as she aged, she became more health conscious about her food choices. She was a gifted student who was allowed to skip a grade in elementary school – a fact that she loved to remind her children of. She was proud of her experiences as a cheerleader at Hindman High School. Her mother Vera particularly stressed the importance of her gaining a higher education as a path out of the mountains and into the world. She graduated from Morehead State College with degrees in both English and French. It was while there that she began to write poetry and creative prose. She later obtained a teaching-related master’s degree. In 1964, Claire began an impactful high school teaching career that lasted 49 years. In her early days, Claire taught both French and English, later focusing exclusively on Advanced Placement English literature. She was a faculty mentor to numerous student clubs, including journalism students for many years. She was recognized as the Teacher of the Year at J.P. Taravella High School in 1995. Claire was immensely proud of her life’s work in helping to shape thousands of young people. Growing up with little money in an often-exploited region gave her a deep empathy for impoverished and marginalized people and communities. This led her to work several summers as a social worker and to always be conscious of inequality. She passed this concern for justice to her children. Claire’s love, patience, and devotion for her children provided a solid foundation of self-confidence for them. Her creative and kind ways made her a wonderful role model. All who know Claire would remember her as a supportive, fun, and loving person who did her part to make the world a little better place. The writer (Steve) apologizes to her for not doing enough justice in this short space to better record her wonderful life. Claire was first married to Tom Austin. Her second husband was Brooks Dunoy. She is survived by her son Steve (Meg), their son Conley, and her daughter Jordan Joseph (George) and their children Thomas and Leila, stepdaughter Lynn (Logan) Toms and their daughter Ellie, her brothers Max Calhoun (Joan), sister in law Rose Calhoun, and her “sister” cousin Mary (Tom) Heilbron, and their children as well as many nieces and nephews. Claire was preceded in death by her siblings Racine Markowitz, Don Calhoun, and Rex Calhoun, who died on the same day as Claire. In lieu of flowers, Claire would like donations to go to curealz.org. Cure Alzheimer’s is a non-profit organization dedicated to funding research with the highest probability of preventing, slowing or reversing Alzheimer’s disease. 100% of donations go to support research. To sign Claire’s guest register or to leave online condolences, please visit www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home & Crematory Family Owned and Operated Since 1978.

Claire Dunoy

August 19, 1942 - October 15, 2022