Claudette Thayer, 82

Although she was a 27 year survivor of breast cancer, Claudette Thayer passed away Monday, July 29, 2019 from another aggressive form of the disease that escaped detection until she was admitted to the hospital for back pain. She ended up in Chandler Regional Hospital among experts who detected the cause and could do nothing for her. She spent her last day in comfort care at Heritage Healthcare in Globe with her husband and daughter at her side.

Claudette Thayer, 82, is survived by her husband of 57 years, J E Ted Thayer, 79, of Wheatfields, her daughter Janet Phillips, also of Wheatfields, her son John of Billings, Montana, her brother John Gordon of Maryland, granddaughter Krystylynn Creedon of Tucson, brother-in-law Bill and sister-in-law Amanda, both also of Tucson as well as other assorted relatives scattered around the country.

Claudette and Ted met in Gilroy, Calif. She was a San Francisco-born cosmetologist – he was the local disc-jockey. They married January 13, 1962, two days after Ted’s 21st birthday. Son John was born Sept. 19, 1964 in Carmel, Calif. and daughter Janet was born Feb. 5, 1967 in Santa Cruz. They moved to Tucson, Ariz. on Claudette’s birthday, April 14, 1967. Claudette was mother to her kids, wife and partner to her husband and overseer of three different homes over the years. Claudette and Ted escaped to Globe, Ariz. in April of 1992. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of ’92 and survived for another 27 years.

Claudette Thayer didn’t like to mingle and had a hard time meeting new friends. She never understood how much she was admired in this community.

No services, viewing or celebrations were contemplated. Claudette’s cremains will be distributed among younger family members in accordance with her desires.