Claudia Lee Stubblefield passed away Wednesday, February 4, in Early, Texas. She was born in Brownwood, Texas, on March 28, 1926, to Juanita and Polk Ward Lankford. After graduating from Brownwood High School, she married Lester Stubblefield on June 20, 1946.
Having shown an artistic bent from childhood, Mrs. Stubblefield was an avid painter. She studied portraiture under Maureen Stewart, Ann Abdias, and Carole Suddereth Pyborn, attended workshops in Brownwood conducted by Lovena Forbes and Gaitha Browning, as well as workshops by outstanding artists around the country including Ben Konis of Amarillo, Texas, Albert Handell of Woodstock, NY and Santa Fe, NM, Bob Gerbracht of San Jose, CA, William Henry Earle of Connecticut, and Dick Turner of Houston. She received her Associate’s Degree at Howard Payne University. She was a member of the Brownwood Art Association, a charter member in “People Painters,” a group of portrait artists which meets weekly to paint live models, the Texas Fine Arts Association, and the Pastel Society of the Southwest. Among Mrs. Stubblefield’s many honors are the Citation Award from the Texas Fine Arts Association, selection in the juried show for exhibition at the Ryan Fine Arts center of McMurry College in Abilene, TX, and an exhibition at the juried show at D’Art in Dallas. She is credited with mentoring other painters, especially in her later years. Her portraits have been hung in numerous galleries and public spaces, including a commissioned portrait of U.S. Senator Phil Gramm on display in his district offices. She sat on the founding board of the Stars of Texas Art Show, an annual juried exhibition of some of Texas’ finest art. In addition to her own painting, which included many Texas landscapes as well as portraits, she collected the art of other renowned painters, with a particular interest in artists of the American Southwest, as she herself was influenced by her studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Scottsdale, Arizona.
The mother of three, Mrs. Stubblefield was an active PTA member at Coggin Elementary, and served as City Council PTA President in 1958. As her own daughters reached scouting age, she was leader of a troupe of Brownies and later Girl Scouts.Mrs. Stubblefield was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Leo Stubblefield, and is survived by their three children, Gayle (Mrs. E. F. “Skip”) Blancett, of Salado, Texas, Jerry Stubblefield (and wife Cindy) of Asheville, North Carolina, and Lee Ellen (Mrs. Ronnie) Reeder, of Ira, Texas, and eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.
There will be no immediate funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to charity. A memorial event will be planned and announced at a later date. An online registry for all who wish to leave a message is provided at Broeker Funeral Home, Salado, TX.
