Claire Cooksley, of Redding, CA passed away on Thursday, February 28, 2013. She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Violet Rousselot and four brothers Edward, Robert, Ernest and Joseph. She is survived by her beloved husband of 56 years, Jim Cooksley; daughter, Paddy Adishian (Dale); grandchildren: Ashley, Lindsey, Michael and Carolyn and sister, Patricia Bradley.

Claire was born in Kansas City, Kansas on December 14, 1927. She graduated from Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Missouri University in Columbia, Missouri and a Masters Degree in Nursing Education and from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Claire and Jim moved to Redding in 1960 where she began working as a night nursing supervisor at Mercy Hospital. She was later instrumental in developing the nursing program at Shasta College, where she was an instructor for 29 years.

Claire was highly respected by her colleagues and nursing students, and continued these friendships long after her retirement. She loved her grandchildren immensely. She was devoted to all their interests; she shared her many passions with them including cooking, sewing, gardening and reading a variety of literature.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy. A reception will be held following the service at Our Lady of Mercy. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Allen & Dahl.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Claire Cooksley Nursing Scholarship Fund at Shasta College. Checks may be made payable to Shasta College, adding " Claire Cooksley Nursing Scholarship" to the memo line and sent to Shasta College, Attention Angela Nava, PO Box 496006, Redding, CA 96049.