Clare Hollie Abel, age 64, passed away at her home in Phoenix, surrounded by her family on November 4, 2019 after fighting Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) disease. She was a Valentine baby, born on February 14, 1955 to Laura Lee and Wallace Abel.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 35 years, Richard Bowman; her children, Ty (Shama), Hollie, and Casey; and her sisters, Victoria and Stacey (Jim).
Clare grew up in Pennsylvania, where she attended North Allegheny High School. She started her undergraduate studies at Georgetown University. But, after a year, she transferred to Texas Tech University to be closer to her parents in Phoenix while her father was ill. She was a member of the Red Raider Pom Squad, helping Raider Red and The Masked Rider rally the crowd at most major sporting events. Her passion for writing and helping people led her to pursue a Juris Doctorate. She was a graduate of the Arizona State University law school, passed the bar in 1981 and began her 35-year legal career thereafter.
Clare was a trailblazer for women in the law. She joined Burch and Cracchiolo, P.A. in 1984. Her main practice areas were Real Estate and Administrative Law. She was recognized as an expert in her practice area and earned the following distinctions: Recognition by Martindale-Hubbell as being in the “top 5% of women lawyers in the nation”, Arizona Business Magazine’s “One of the Most Influential Women in Business”, named one of the Southwest’s “Super Lawyers”, and Arizona’s “Finest Lawyers”. She was also very proud of her work in and with the Junior League of Phoenix, a female organization committed to voluntarism, and assisting other female attorneys rise “through the glass ceiling”.
The most impressive thing about Clare is that it seemed like she was able to do it all. While handling a successful career, she also devoted herself to her family. She rarely, if ever missed one of her children’s athletic events. Many parents will remember her as the official scorekeeper for each of Ty, Hollie, and Casey’s teams growing up. Though not her strong suit, she also found time to cook dinner for the family. Her compassionate and loving nature led her to take on the role of a caretaker, first for her mother for 18 years following her mother’s first stroke, and next during her husband’s fight against colon cancer.
Through her own battle with PSP, her tenacious, courageous, and unyielding personality persisted. Husband and wife switched roles, and their bond grew stronger as Richard became the caregiver. Even on lower-energy days, she was able to muster her favorite words, “I love you”.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Barrow Neurological Institute. The Institute performs research to cure conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, brain tumors, stroke and aneurysms. Donations can be made at the Institute’s website - https://give.supportbarrow.org/give/208376/#!/donation/checkout.
A Memorial Service will be held Friday, November 15, 2019 at 4 PM at All Saints Episcopal Church at 6300 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Seasons 52 at 2502 E. Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85016 following the Memorial Service until 7 PM.
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