Obituary for Susan Carol Claybrook (Durham)
Susan “Carol” Claybrook was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She was of Christian faith. Carol passed away after a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 71 on April 29, 2022, surrounded by her family.
Carol was a beloved elementary school teacher in Kansas City, Kansas, teaching for nearly 40 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, and her master’s degree from Kansas State University. Her passion for learning and education was shared with thousands of children, impacting countless lives and earning state and local awards for instituting new initiatives across the district. She was active and served in leadership roles with community organizations around KCK, including the Salvation Army, PTA, NEA, and the First Baptist Church of Basehor.
Carol loved to travel and was always planning her next adventure, even in her final days. During her life she traveled with her husband Lee and children all over the country and made frequent weekend trips to the Ozarks and Branson with her sister and parents. Carol traveled internationally visiting Europe, Asia, Mexico, and Australia, and taught one summer in China. During her retirement, when they were not visiting their granddaughters on the east coast, her and Lee visited nearly every casino and historical museum across the Midwest. As soon as she would get home from one trip, she was ready to go on the next.
She loved laughing and celebrating life’s milestones with “the Girls”, life-long friends Pat, Connie, Pauline, and Judy. One of Carol’s greatest qualities was her ability to live in the present moment fully and not worry about the past or the future. She woke up every day with a renewed spirit and determination to make it her best day. She always had a smile on her face and a positive, cheerful attitude. She was spontaneous, adventuresome, and made life fun.
Carol is survived by her husband, Orin “Lee” Claybrook; sister, Patricia Durham; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Ben Helwig, and granddaughters Holly and Zoe Helwig; son and daughter-in-law Justin and Ann Claybrook, and grandchildren Natalie, Alexander, and Emily Claybrook; and extended family aunts, uncle, cousins, niece and nephew. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leroy and Geneva Durham, and her beloved cat Stormy.
Carol’s family and friends will continue to honor her legacy by making life fun: living their lives to the fullest and finding joy and humor in all of life’s moments.
The family would like to thank special friend Carol Shafer for her support over the past few months. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to their favorite charity in Carol’s name.
Carol was a beloved elementary school teacher in Kansas City, Kansas, teaching for nearly 40 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, and her master’s degree from Kansas State University. Her passion for learning and education was shared with thousands of children, impacting countless lives and earning state and local awards for instituting new initiatives across the district. She was active and served in leadership roles with community organizations around KCK, including the Salvation Army, PTA, NEA, and the First Baptist Church of Basehor.
Carol loved to travel and was always planning her next adventure, even in her final days. During her life she traveled with her husband Lee and children all over the country and made frequent weekend trips to the Ozarks and Branson with her sister and parents. Carol traveled internationally visiting Europe, Asia, Mexico, and Australia, and taught one summer in China. During her retirement, when they were not visiting their granddaughters on the east coast, her and Lee visited nearly every casino and historical museum across the Midwest. As soon as she would get home from one trip, she was ready to go on the next.
She loved laughing and celebrating life’s milestones with “the Girls”, life-long friends Pat, Connie, Pauline, and Judy. One of Carol’s greatest qualities was her ability to live in the present moment fully and not worry about the past or the future. She woke up every day with a renewed spirit and determination to make it her best day. She always had a smile on her face and a positive, cheerful attitude. She was spontaneous, adventuresome, and made life fun.
Carol is survived by her husband, Orin “Lee” Claybrook; sister, Patricia Durham; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Ben Helwig, and granddaughters Holly and Zoe Helwig; son and daughter-in-law Justin and Ann Claybrook, and grandchildren Natalie, Alexander, and Emily Claybrook; and extended family aunts, uncle, cousins, niece and nephew. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leroy and Geneva Durham, and her beloved cat Stormy.
Carol’s family and friends will continue to honor her legacy by making life fun: living their lives to the fullest and finding joy and humor in all of life’s moments.
The family would like to thank special friend Carol Shafer for her support over the past few months. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to their favorite charity in Carol’s name.