Deidre “Dee” Claypool peacefully entered her eternal home into the loving arms of Jesus on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the age 70.

Born on October 25, 1955 in Fairbanks, Alaska while her father served in the Air Force. She was a daddy’s girl and learned from her parents to love and enjoy the simple things in life. At the age of eight, she moved with her parents to Chicago, Illinois before eventually settling in Paris, Illinois, where she spent most of her childhood and later returned to retire.

She devoted many years to working in the healthcare field, but her life’s calling was caring for others. For more than 30 years, she faithfully served adults with disabilities at D.D. Homes. Dee deeply loved the people she cared for, and they loved her in return. She brought joy, laughter, and compassion wherever she went. Often, she would bring along her beloved “fur and feather babies” – Fairbanks the Husky, Wimpy Boy and Midnight the cats, and her cherished cockatiel, Bright Eyes – to visit her clients, sharing comfort and smiles with everyone around her.

Her love for animals and nature was woven into her everyday life. Dee faithfully kept her hummingbird feeders full, scattered wildflower seeds through nearby fields for the shy birds, and cared for the wildlife around her with tenderness. This past fall, she lovingly fed a mama opossum and delighted in watching her little ones grow.

Dee will be remembered for her kind heart, compassionate spirit, and wonderful sense of humor. She loved to joke around, tell stories, and could spend hours talking about nearly any subject. If you ever received a Christmas gift from Dee, there was a good chance it came from Swiss Colony. On one occasion, when a company misspelled someone’s name, Dee made sure it was corrected – because to her, every person mattered. That was simply who Dee was: thoughtful, caring, and attentive to others.

As Dee would often say, “I’m just keeping the hippy dippy vibe alive!”

Dee was the only one child of Richard L. and Doloris J. (Kime) Holle and was preceded in death by her loving parents.

Heartbroken by her passing are her dear friends: Kevin, Eli, and Lucas, along with many others whose lives were touched by her kindness, friendship, and caring soul.

In loving memory of Dee, please donate to your favorite animal rescue shelter, Shalom Wildlife Zoo https://www.shalomwildlife.com/donations or LARRS Rescue & Sanctuary https://www.larrsrescueandsanctuary.com/donate 

For more information and online condolences please visit www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com