Obituary of Clara Battle McQueen

McQueen, Clara Battle, 79, of St. Petersburg died Saturday, April 22, 2000 at Carrington Place Convalescent Center after a long battle with Parkinson?s Disease. She was the granddaughter of James W. Cherbonneaux, who was a pioneer contractor in St. Petersburg having built the Ponce De Leon Hotel, All States Court, and St. Mary?s Catholic Church and made the first concrete block for St. Petersburg?s first Library and the Plaza Theater. Having inherited from her grandfather the ability to design and build almost anything, she went on to build floral and rock gardens, fish ponds and fountains not only at her own home but for friends, Mrs. Hubert Rutland , Sr. and Mrs. Robert Leahey and she also did the fountain in the lobby of the Security Federal Building at 2600-9th Street No. now the Skyline Professional Building. A native of St. Petersburg, she attended St. Paul?s Catholic School and graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1937. At age 17, she was St. Petersburg?s first LifeSavers girl, passing out free LifeSavers Candies on Central Avenue. Immediately following high school graduation, she went to work for Minshall?s Florist as a floral designer. After 10 years with Minshall?s, she went to work for Johnstone?s Florist n.k.a. Flowers Unlimited before opening Battle Florist in the early 1940?s at 2435 Central Avenue where she worked until her retirement in 1961. In 1952, she and her late husband William F. McQueen, and John and Margaret Anderson, started Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home in an old residence on the corner of 9th Street and 22nd Avenue North next to their own personal residences. In 1960 she served as President of Florida West Coast Florists? Association. Following her retirement from Battle Florist, she was sought out by many charitable, civic and social organizations for her talents in creating unique and unusual floral arrangements and decorations. She was a former member of the Science Center Guild serving in 1963 as Fund Raiser Co-Chairman for all artists at the first Art Show held at the Bayfront Center in 1964-65 she served as Chairman of Decorations and Costumes committee. A member of the Anthonians of St. Anthony?s Hospital; member and served as Chairman of Hospitality for St. Anthony?s Hospital Auxiliary, Inc. from 1975-1977 and served as Co-Chairman of the Miser?s Mart from 1978-1979; a member of the Stuart Society of the Museum of Fine Arts she served as Museum Mart Christmas Booth Chairman and Museum Mart Greenhouse Booth Chairman from 1974-1980; she was a Princess in the Queen of Hearts Court in 1982. A founding member of the Shorecrest Preparatory School Mother?s Club she served as President in 1967-68; from 1973-1982 she served on the Mothers? Club Board Emeritus and in 1976 she served as Secretary of the Founders? Club. She also served as Chairman of Ways and Means and the Chairman of Shorecrest Annual Country Fair. She was Catholic. Survivors include a daughter: Margaret Anne ?Maggi? Anders, and two 2 sons: William Battle and John Thomas ? all of St. Petersburg; a brother: Max G. Battle ? Clearwater, FL; two 2 sisters: Mary L. Cordary ? St. Petersburg and Jean M. Harrington ? Jacksonville, FL; six 6 grandchildren: Morgan Maria McQueen, Annemarie Nicole Anders, Clare Ashlyn McQueen, Jenna Frances McQueen, Bailee Nicole McQueen, and Joshua Thomas McQueen ? all of St. Petersburg; and numerous nieces and nephews. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center ? Ninth Street Chapel, St.Petersburg, Florida.