Claudia Watson Hairgrove

Services for Claudia Watson Hairgrove, 95, of Palestine (formerly of Tyler) will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler with Pastor Ken Warren officiating. Burial will follow at approximately 3:30 PM at Restland Cemetery in Tenaha under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mrs. Hairgrove passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday April 6th. She was born March 18, 1928 in Shelby County to Jasper Ward Watson and Lizzie Patterson Watson. Claudia was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church and was very active in several organizations, the most recent being Volunteer Christian Builders. She graduated from high school in Tenaha, Texas. She attended Stephen F. Austin University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Early in her career she taught physical education and later elementary grades and special education, for which she was nationally recognized. She retired from teaching and moved with her husband to Tyler in 1986. Claudia married her spouse of 72 years Billy Wayne Hairgrove on June 1st, 1948. They were blessed with three children, Wayne C. Hairgrove, Janice R. Hairgrove and Larry W. Hairgrove. She was preceded in death in by husband Billy in 2020 and by their daughter Janice R. Hairgrove in 2010, and by brothers Osborn Watson, Dewey Watson, George Winton Watson, Clifton (Jack) Watson and Billy Joe Watson, and sister Verna Bernette Watson Boyer. She is survived by her sister, Bobbie Watson Veatch; two sons, Wayne and his wife Lou Ann of Gordon, Texas, Larry and his wife Geraldine of Grapeland, Texas; and four grandchildren, Katie Hairgrove Peterson and her husband Jeffery Peterson, Benjamin C. Hairgrove and his wife Dana, Laura Hairgrove Randall and her husband Robert C. Randall and Mark D. Hairgrove; and by six great-grandchildren, Logan Jeffery Peterson, Anna Corrine Peterson, Calvin Council Hairgrove, Craig Edward Randall, Archer Alexander Hairgrove and Rose Emily Randall. If desired, memorials may be made to Volunteer Christian Builders (www.volunteerchristianbuilders.com), Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/donate) or the Salvation Army (https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org).

Claudia Watson Hairgrove

March 18, 1928 - April 6, 2023