Claire Austin was born on August 29th, 1945, to Lillian and Edwin. She felt blessed to have grown up in Laguna Beach, California, where she spent summer days climbing the tree out back to see if the flags in the surf would allow her to head down for a swim at Main Beach. Her parents instilled a love of music in her from an early age, learning to play the piano, organ, cello and other instruments as well as singing with her sisters. 

She graduated from Laguna Beach High and headed to Brigham Young University. After earning a degree in education, she worked for a few years at the church office building in Salt Lake City. Her life was forever changed when she joined her brother Ed on a drive back to California, where Ed’s friend Norm DeWitt was riding along.

Norm and Claire were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 29, 1972 and settled in Orem, UT. Soon they welcomed their 4 children into their family: Jennifer, Devan, Heather, and Bryan. She worked tirelessly raising her children and working at BYU, a job she held and loved for 47 years. 

Her family, community, and church were everything to her, and no one worked harder at serving others, whether it was accompanying musical numbers, playing the organ at church, throwing yearly Christmas parties, or supporting her kids in all their activities. 

When Norm passed away unexpectedly after 32 years of marriage, Claire found happiness in being involved in the lives of her ever growing number of grandchildren. She loved hosting Sunday meatloaf or pot roast dinners so they would all get together regularly. Was happy to oblige any request for cream chipped beef no matter the time. She spent hours giving piano lessons to her grandchildren, joined in on summer camping trips and yearly Disneyland vacations, she was the world's greatest Nana.

A stroke in 2019 made the next 7 years of her life much more of a trial, but through it all her involvement with her family was her whole world. Even in her final days, she would brighten up and smile whenever she could be around her family, and was able to make one final trip to Laguna Beach with them just a couple of months ago. 

She is survived by her 3 siblings, 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild (and one on the way), numerous in-laws, and countless other family and friends. She will always be remembered for her steadfastness, her drive to take care of everything and everyone, and her unwavering testimony that she left as an example for all those she came in contact with.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 12pm at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem. Family and friends may visit that morning from 11:00-11:45am at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem.

A webcast of the services will be availabel at www.walkersanderson.com.