Obituary

Born February 24, 1931 to Ercelle Martin Jones and Emily Agnes Steele in Humansville, MO. She was raised in Lee’s Summit, MO where she was a successful musician and basketball player.  After graduation she received Master’s degrees in Music, Mathematics and Business.  She had leading roles at the KC Conservatory of Music, World Premier of Baby Doe in Central City, CO, Starlight Theater in Kansas City, MO, St. Louis MUNY, Opera Houses in Sydney Australia, Rome and throughout Europe, the New York City Opera and the Washington DC National Cathedral.  She served President John Kennedy as Music Coordinator of the Presidents Music Committee.  Her accounting career included time with the Saudi Arabia Armed Forces Office, Weyerhaeuser Corp, and Senior Client Liaison for Malcomb Forbes.

Claire was passionate to always help others.  She was a 24-year member of Kiwanis International and was a member of the Lee’s Summit and Harrisonville Kiwanis Clubs.

She organized numerous fundraising projects benefiting needy families in Washington DC and here in the Kansas City region.

She was the descendant of early Jackson County families and her great grandfather was one of the first settlers in Kansas City.  She married her surviving husband, Whitson J Kirk, Jr. of Peculiar, MO on July 7, 2017.  She is also survived by Brother Clarence Eugene Jones; and Nephews and Nieces:  Robin Jones, Sullivan Jones, Alan (Cricket) Jones, Steve Jones, Marilyn Jones, all of Lee’s Summit, MO; Alex (Ivis) Jones, Jake Jones, Beth (Pedro) Jimenez, all of Kansas City, MO; Jim (Angela) Jones of Liberty, Mo; Kelly Jones of Prairie Village, KS; Randall Jones of Kansas City, KS; Doug (Erin) Jones of Arlington, Tx; Adam (Teresa) Jones of St. Louis, MO; Bryan Jones of Aurora, CO; Step-daughter Kim Wong (Sean, Patrick, Melissa) of Annapolis, MD, and Step-son Frederick Kevin Schultze of Washington DC.  She was preceded in death by her siblings Ercella S. Beck, Bess J McClandless-Orr, Bud M. Jones and Ike F. Jones; and her previous husband Frederick Schultze.

A visitation will be held Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 10:00 am, with a tribute service at 11:00 am at the Peculiar United Methodist Church, 20521 S School Road, Peculiar, MO 64078

In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Peculiar United Methodist Church for a memorial.

Arrangements by Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd Street, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063