Claudean Bland Bear, 88, died on April 12, 2023, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple.
Visitation will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas on April 21 from 5-7 p.m.
Services will be at First Baptist Church in Lampasas on April 22 at 11 a.m., with interment to follow at Naruna Cemetery in Burnet County. After the interment, the family will host a luncheon at First Baptist Church, and all are invited to attend.
Claudean was born June 27, 1934 to Thomas Claude and Ollie Mae (Lindsey) Bland in Lampasas.
She grew up in Lampasas and graduated from Lampasas High School in 1951.
After high school, she married James Weldon Bear on April 12, 1951.
She had four children, and then she attended the Mary-Hardin Baylor and received a bachelor’s degree in home economics. After teaching for several years, she obtained her master’s degree from Tarleton State University.
Claudean taught home economics at Lampasas High School for 31 years. She mentored multiple students, and many say they remember her as being one of the best teachers they had. She loved teaching and enjoyed all the relationships she developed during that time.
After retirement, she became a full-time “Memaw” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Claudean was a member of First Baptist Church, where she was baptized at the age of 9.
She and her husband enjoyed 60 years of marriage before he died in 2011.
Claudean also was preceded in death by her daughter Vickie Lynne.
She is survived by her children Debbie and Terry Russell of Fairview, Chrisdean and Mud Gibbs of Hempstead, and J.W. and Audrey Bear of Lampasas; nine grandchildren, Shelli and Paul Ragland, Jason and Paige Russell, Justin and Sara Russell, Julie and Robby Beyer, Stacy Pratt, Dusty Gibbs, Mason and Chelsea Gibbs, Brittlyn and Travis Pohl, and Ryan and Larry Bear; and by 23 great-grandchildren, Ty, Weston, Gracie, Autumn, Cody, Colin, Ruby, Caleb, Wellington, Lillian, Walker, Waverly, Russell, Evelyn, Emmitt, Sarah, Colton, Elizabeth, Parker, Kennedy, Madison, Brooke and Ava.
The family requested memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church in Lampasas in Claudean’s name.
