Obituary for Dorothy Claybaker

Dorothy Nell Claybaker

September 14, 1932 – April 27, 2020

Dorothy Nell Claybaker was born on September 14, 1932, in Blackwell to Ray and Ella (Gilbert) Miller. She grew up in Blackwell with her brothers Don and Lloyd and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. There she was involved with the Methodist Youth Fellowship and played the piano for many of the Sunday evening services. While in junior high school, Dorothy was already quite an accomplished pianist and also played on the girls’ homeroom basketball team. Later at Blackwell High School she was a member of the Pep Cats, Vice President of her sophomore class, and a three year member of the National Honor Society. She met Max Claybaker as a freshman when he moved from the Star School District into Blackwell Public Schools. They became friends and were involved in many of the same school organizations and activities, many of which involved music. She was the librarian for the Blackwell High School band and accompanied Max on many of his competitive trombone solos.

Dorothy was graduated from Blackwell High School with the class of 1950 and went on to attend Oklahoma A & M College in Stillwater for one year. After her freshman year, Dorothy and Max were married on August 31, 1951, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell. Following their wedding they returned to A & M where Dorothy was employed as the secretary for the Dean of Education while Max finished his degree.

In February of 1957 Dorothy gave birth to their firstborn son, Neal. Later in December of 1958 their daughter Lynn was born, followed by daughter Janet in December of 1959. Their son Kendall was born in September of 1962 followed by the birth of their youngest son, Stan, in December of 1966.

Dorothy spent her life on the farm with Max doing what she loved more than life itself … taking care of her family. She was in the kitchen almost around the clock in the summertime preparing the next meal for her family, with many of those meals being taken out to the field where Max and the boys were working. She was a wonderful wife and mother. Her husband and her children were her life.

She is survived by her husband, Max, of Blackwell; daughter, Lynn Franzmann and husband John of Stillwater; son, Kendall of Stillwater; son, Stan and wife Kendall Ann of Blackwell; grandchildren, Steve, Lauren and Bryan, along with Kameron, Trenton, Dylan, John and Katie; nephew, Jeff Miller and wife Darci and their daughter, Jessica; nieces, Pam Schuster and Linda Dolezal. Also surviving Dorothy are great grandchildren, Judah, Shiloh, Krew and Livy.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Neal; her daughter, Janet; two brothers, Don and Lloyd; and a sister-in-law, Doris.

A private family graveside service is being held with a public memorial service to be planned at a later date.

Casketbearers will be Dorothy’s grandchildren, Steve Loftis, Lauren Loftis-Walker, Bryan Loftis, Kameron Claybaker, Trenton Claybaker and Dylan Claybaker.

A memorial has been established in Dorothy’s honor to Stillwater Medical at Blackwell in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.