Claudia Jeanne Halley, 77, of Lenexa, Kansas, died on 10 August 2025 after a long bout with cancer during which she was determined to live as long as possible. 

Claudia was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the second of five children to John and Irma Lower.  After graduating college, Claudia was an elementary school teacher prior to moving to Kansas City in the early 1970’s.  There she earned an MBA, placed first on the Kansas CPA exam and became a licensed CPA. 

Claudia retired from Farmland Industries and was also in banking and insurance as loan officer, compliance officer and auditor.  Claudia met her husband Jim in 1976 in the elevator of a downtown Kansas City bank and they were constant companions for the next 49 years. 

Claudia had many adventures with Jim including backpacking and camping across the continental divide, scaling mountains with technical gear, snow skiing and racing, long distance cycling, scuba diving and domestic and foreign travel.  Claudia was a longtime member of the Kansas City Ski Club in which she was auditor and trip captain.  Claudia was a voracious reader and in her later years was a volunteer reading coach at a public elementary school. 

Claudia is survived by husband, sister and three brothers.  Her greatest joys were her friends, family and especially her nieces and nephews.  She will be missed by many.   

Final farewells may be made at graveside at noon, Wednesday, 20 August 2025 in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska.