Claire Elaine (Cundiff) Lewis, 60, rural Brown County, passed quietly to a better place with the Lord on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Nashville, after a short and courageous battle with cancer.

She was born March 2, 1952, in Terre Haute to Thomas Wickliffe Cundiff and Maxine Claire (Shaw) Cundiff. They survive. Other survivors include her loving husband of 34 years, Paul Robert Lewis, Jr. of Trafalgar; her brother, Paul Winston Cundiff of Jamestown, Ky.; numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews and in-laws in both the Lewis and Cundiff families. Claire was devoted to her husband's children, Paul Robert Lewis III of Shelbyville, Thomas Christopher Lewis of Indianapolis, and Amanda Marlene Lewis, who preceded her in death.

Claire graduated from Indiana Central University with a degree in elementary education, but instead of teaching, she chose to work in the hotel industry for several years. She then pursued a career as a fingerprint classifier for the Indiana State Police and received a commendation for her work that led to the resolution of numerous violent crimes. After 16 years with ISP, Claire retired to explore and follow her artistic dreams.

During "the dash" between her birth and passing, it was surely Claire's laughter and "wide as Texas grin" that lingered first in everyone's impression. Vivacious, adventuresome, artistic, kind-hearted, charitable (always quietly), wickedly irreverent, gardener, chef supreme, home improvement specialist, lover of nature and all animals (especially their dog, Tess), voracious reader and friend to all, Claire pursued life with boundless enthusiasm and curiosity. When Paul and Claire moved to Brown County in 1994, their home - indoors and out - quickly became a testimony to her creative talents. With her ability to create, make, stitch, paint or build extraordinary things, nothing in Claire's world was ever ordinary. From the bright orange shutters on their brick home - an homage to her love of "da Bears" - to the unique wind chimes she donated yearly to the Brown County Children's Auction, you could always see and feel the passionate expressions of Claire. She loved traveling, especially to Gulf Shores, and many scenic vistas became the inspiration for her paintings, stained glass work and other objects of art. Each year, Claire selected a number of her sketches and paintings as subjects for her greatly anticipated Christmas cards. Despite her failing health, she was able to finish this year's work and took great joy in knowing that they would once again be sent to her family and friends.

A celebration of Claire's remarkable life will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 at Cottonwood Church in Morgantown, with Pastor Darrell Miller officiating. Visitation with the family will be at the church from noon until service time.

Expressions of sympathy can be made in any way that touches your heart. A sentence or two in a card or at the online living memorial sharing memories of Claire would be a wonderful remembrance for the family to cherish and share. Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.bondmitchellfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions can be made in Claire's memory to the American Cancer Society, 4567 Progress Drive, Columbus, IN 47201, or at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Claire_Elaine_Lewis; or for research to the Alzheimer’s Association, 9135 N. Meridian St., Suite B4, Indianapolis, IN 46209-7109.