I have good, laughing memories of sweet Claude--some old some new. He was a star in my English class and when I was being a prankster with the sub he always went along with it. And in physics, it was the same. He had the best attitude encouraging me to misbehave! But he never did enough to get in trouble. Clever!
Years later we were in touch when I was teaching in China. My kids were in awe of a professional Chinese basketball player. Claude went to all the trouble to mail me the players tshirt, and his hat for one very lucky student. It was a huge hit. Absolutely made the day.
And now move to present and we used to have long talks. One of the easiest people to talk to.He was an inspiration to me --still funny and kind. Not complaining. Helping me with geology questions! I loved those talks. Claude, I miss you. I learned so much from you. You are free now. ❤️
After graduating from Crystal Lake High School in 1965, Claude attended Colorado School of Mines, where subsequently earned his Bachelors and Graduate degrees in Geology. His major area of interest was Petroleum Geology. He worked for SUNOCO in Dallas where his area of petroleum exploration was Louisiana and the gulf area in that vicinity. He returned to the Denver area and continued exploration primarily in the Wyoming areas. After SUNOCO he worked for several Petroleum consulting firms that developed potential oil and gas well sites. Financial shares were then sold to investors for each site portfolio. These funds then paid for the exploration drilling in the spots Claude’s work recommended. Claude studied the core samples, even from the “dry” holes, as it helped him zero in on sites for better gas and oil production.
Claude spent the remainder of his career living and working from his home office in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. His parents, Emery and Clara moved to Lakewood to be close to Claude. After Claude’s mom passed, Emery moved into Claude’s house. Emery shopped and cooked, while Claude worked. These two Bachelors enjoyed living together until Emery, 93 passed away in 2005.
They both loved to watch the Cubs play. Claude was very happy to see the Cubs actually win a World Series. Claude’s love of baseball started in Little league, and the Babe Ruth league in Crystal Lake. He collected baseball mitts with over 30 in his collection. He did not play baseball in high school as it conflicted with his other favorite sport, golf. He wasn’t the “best” golfer, but he enjoyed playing it with his Tiger teammates.
Claude was a serious collector of military items. His Dad had been an equipment mechanic in WWII, and Claude even located and talked to members of his Dad’s old unit. He relished hearing stories from Emery’s Commanding Officer of his Dad’s efforts to keep equipment running in Africa as well in Italy, as the allied force moved towards Germany. During one of my visits. Claude pulled a bazooka out from under couch to show me From field radios, combat uniform patches, field cooking kits, etc. Claude had a military museum in his house.
He also was an avid HO gauge train nut. He had a full train layout in his basement. He started collecting trains at Frank’s Barber and Hobby shop in Crystal Lake, where Claude worked after school. Frank said “Claudie” would spend his entire paycheck on trains there.
Claude also collected many friends. He cherished his connections to his high school classmates. He was a loyal “Tiger” through and through. He would often get a phone call from the Tuesday Tiger group that met at the Cottage Bar/Restaurant. These calls always cheered him up, as he caught up on everyone’s lives.
As Claude’s health deteriorated he became confined to his house. Claude’s neighbors Diane and her husband, Ed, stepped up to meet the challenge which Claude depended on so much. They did the shopping, taxi rides to Claude’s healthcare issues, and watched over Claude when he needed help with other items. They help Claude plan for his passing. Claude had ordered his head stone on his birthday a couple years before his passing. They also helped him choose his cemetery plot overlooking Colorado School of Mines, and selected a funeral home.
Claude was a dear and close friend to all of us that knew him.
David Graham
Fair winds and following seas Claude. You are greatly missed.
Joyce Bernard (Major)
I have good, laughing memories of sweet Claude--some old some new. He was a star in my English class and when I was being a prankster with the sub he always went along with it. And in physics, it was the same. He had the best attitude encouraging me to misbehave! But he never did enough to get in trouble. Clever!
Years later we were in touch when I was teaching in China. My kids were in awe of a professional Chinese basketball player. Claude went to all the trouble to mail me the players tshirt, and his hat for one very lucky student. It was a huge hit. Absolutely made the day.
And now move to present and we used to have long talks. One of the easiest people to talk to.He was an inspiration to me --still funny and kind. Not complaining. Helping me with geology questions! I loved those talks. Claude, I miss you. I learned so much from you. You are free now. ❤️
Stewart Ellison
After graduating from Crystal Lake High School in 1965, Claude attended Colorado School of Mines, where subsequently earned his Bachelors and Graduate degrees in Geology. His major area of interest was Petroleum Geology. He worked for SUNOCO in Dallas where his area of petroleum exploration was Louisiana and the gulf area in that vicinity. He returned to the Denver area and continued exploration primarily in the Wyoming areas. After SUNOCO he worked for several Petroleum consulting firms that developed potential oil and gas well sites. Financial shares were then sold to investors for each site portfolio. These funds then paid for the exploration drilling in the spots Claude’s work recommended. Claude studied the core samples, even from the “dry” holes, as it helped him zero in on sites for better gas and oil production.
Claude spent the remainder of his career living and working from his home office in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. His parents, Emery and Clara moved to Lakewood to be close to Claude. After Claude’s mom passed, Emery moved into Claude’s house. Emery shopped and cooked, while Claude worked. These two Bachelors enjoyed living together until Emery, 93 passed away in 2005.
They both loved to watch the Cubs play. Claude was very happy to see the Cubs actually win a World Series. Claude’s love of baseball started in Little league, and the Babe Ruth league in Crystal Lake. He collected baseball mitts with over 30 in his collection. He did not play baseball in high school as it conflicted with his other favorite sport, golf. He wasn’t the “best” golfer, but he enjoyed playing it with his Tiger teammates.
Claude was a serious collector of military items. His Dad had been an equipment mechanic in WWII, and Claude even located and talked to members of his Dad’s old unit. He relished hearing stories from Emery’s Commanding Officer of his Dad’s efforts to keep equipment running in Africa as well in Italy, as the allied force moved towards Germany. During one of my visits. Claude pulled a bazooka out from under couch to show me From field radios, combat uniform patches, field cooking kits, etc. Claude had a military museum in his house.
He also was an avid HO gauge train nut. He had a full train layout in his basement. He started collecting trains at Frank’s Barber and Hobby shop in Crystal Lake, where Claude worked after school. Frank said “Claudie” would spend his entire paycheck on trains there.
Claude also collected many friends. He cherished his connections to his high school classmates. He was a loyal “Tiger” through and through. He would often get a phone call from the Tuesday Tiger group that met at the Cottage Bar/Restaurant. These calls always cheered him up, as he caught up on everyone’s lives.
As Claude’s health deteriorated he became confined to his house. Claude’s neighbors Diane and her husband, Ed, stepped up to meet the challenge which Claude depended on so much. They did the shopping, taxi rides to Claude’s healthcare issues, and watched over Claude when he needed help with other items. They help Claude plan for his passing. Claude had ordered his head stone on his birthday a couple years before his passing. They also helped him choose his cemetery plot overlooking Colorado School of Mines, and selected a funeral home.
Claude was a dear and close friend to all of us that knew him.
Stew Ellison
Stewart Ellison
Werner, Holly, Stew, Claude Terry, Ron and Don