Claudia Gay Stapleton of Shawnee, OK, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved her dearly.
These words are offered in her memory — small, but heartfelt.
Some legacies are not written; they walk the earth, named after those who came before.
Claudia (Smith) Stapleton, (78), passed away at her home on April 6, 2026, in Shawnee, Oklahoma.Claudia Smith was born on July 13, 1947, to Alton and Edith Smith in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She grew up in Carlsbad where she attended and graduated from Carlsbad High School. She had and raised three children, Jennifer, Carol and Randy Harris in Carlsbad.Claudia spent most of her professional career working for the State of New Mexico, retiring from the New Mexico State Engineers Office.On April 1, 1998, she married Mikeal Stapleton in Carlsbad, New Mexico. After retirement, Mike and Claudia enjoyed traveling in their motorhome to see friends, family and different parts of the country. She loved sewing, cooking, entertaining friends and family. Her favorite pastime was making quilts. She made one for every child, grandchild, great grandchild, numerous friends and donated several specialty quilts to the Elks Lodge for fund raising activities. She was a member of the Carlsbad Elks Lodge for 27 years.Claudia was predeceased by her parents, Alton and Edith Smith, sister Norma Beeman, brother Ronnie Smith, and niece Pam Brown.Claudia is survived by her spouse Mikeal Stapleton, daughter Jennifer (Harris) Britain and husband Randy Britain of Asher, OK, daughter Carol (Harris) Hitchcock and husband Jerry Hitchcock of Carlsbad, NM, son Randy Harris and wife Katherine Harris of Albuquerque, NM, step-son Mike Stapleton of Roswell, NM and step-daughter Melissa Vaughn and husband Kenneth Vaughn of Ashdown, AR, sister Linda Amos and husband Jim Amos of Carlsbad, NM, brother Ricky Smith of Carlsbad, NM, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Elks National Foundation through a local Elks Lodge on behalf of Claudia Stapleton.
