Claire Elaine Oneto

Claire Elaine Oneto, born on August 20, 1933, in Modesto, California, was the eldest of two daughters born to Donald Franklin South and Clara Elizabeth (nee Davidson). She married Thomas Angelo Oneto, on February 14, 1954 and moved to Jackson where she resided until her death on August 23, 2026 at age 93. Claire and Tom had four children, Elaine Williams (Leonard); Susan Grijalva; Thomas A. Oneto, Jr. (Linda); and Daniel Oneto (Carole).

A talented seamstress, Claire made her Rainbow Girls formal gowns and wedding dress, most of her daughters’ clothes (as well as teaching them to sew), special quilts, stuffed dolls and animals for all of her grandchildren, and holiday outfits for her granddaughters.

Her children’s many 4-H activities kept her busy as well. She was the leader for the Butte Beavers 4-H Club and was also the project leader for members in the sewing, cooking and home furnishing projects. When her grandchildren were in 4-H, each year the club’s livestock exhibitors at the County Fair looked forward to her hearty oatmeal “breakfast cookies” to grab and eat on their way to the barns in the morning.

In addition to being a dedicated wife and mother, she was an integral part of the family’s agriculture operations of raising cattle, tending an almond orchard in Ripon, California, and later on, an alfalfa hay ranch in Smith Valley, Nevada. Whether it was branding calves, irrigating pasture, feeding and doctoring cattle; flood irrigating, pruning, and harvesting almonds (as she also did in her youth at her father’s orchard); changing sprinklers, cutting hay, checking moisture content at 1:30 in the morning to make sure it would be safe to bale in the morning, or making runs to the farm supply store for parts and supplies; Claire was not only there in the midst of things, she was the glue that held everything together. She remained active in her later years by helping her sons and grandchildren with their sheep and goat enterprises.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and sister, Carolyn. She is survived by her children, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

The family would like to thank Amador Residential Care for the care she received during her residency there.

In honor of her wishes, there will be no services.