Clara Battle McQueen, co-founder of funeral home, 79

By AMY MORRISON

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 24, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Clara Battle McQueen, a member of a pioneer St. Petersburg family and a founder of Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes, has died at age 79.

Mrs. McQueen, an accomplished floral designer, died Saturday (April 22, 2000) at Carrington Place Convalescent Center after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

The granddaughter of James W. Cherbonneaux, a pioneer contractor in St. Petersburg, she inherited her grandfather's ability to design and build almost anything. She designed floral and rock gardens, fish ponds and fountains for friends and also built the fountain in the lobby of the Security Federal Building, now the Skyline Professional Building, at 2600 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) Street N.

A St. Petersburg native and 1937 graduate of St. Petersburg High School, she worked as a floral designer before opening Battle Florist in the early 1940s at 2435 Central Ave. In 1960, she served as president of the Florida West Coast Florists Association.

She retired in 1961 but continued to design floral arrangements for charitable, civic and social organizations.

In 1952, she and her husband, William F. McQueen, along with John and Margaret Anderson, started Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home in an old residence on the corner of King (Ninth) Street and 22nd Avenue N.

In the beginning, Mrs. McQueen took care of all of the flower arrangements, according to her daughter, Maggi Anders, current co-owner and vice president of administration at the funeral home.

Though the McQueens divorced in 1982, Mrs. McQueen continued to contribute silk floral arrangements to the funeral home. Mr. McQueen died in 1987, Mr. Anderson in 1970.

Mrs. McQueen was a member and fundraiser co-chairman of the Science Center Guild, a member of the Anthonians of St. Anthony's Hospital and chairman of hospitality for St. Anthony's Hospital Auxiliary and co-chair of the Miser's Mart. She also was a member of the Stuart Society of the Museum of Fine Arts, a princess in the Queen of Hearts Court of 1982 and a founding member and former president of the Shorecrest Preparatory School Mothers Club.

She was Catholic.

Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Anne "Maggi" Anders, and two sons, William B. and John T., all of St. Petersburg; a brother, Max G. Battle, Clearwater; two sisters, Mary L. Cordary, St. Petersburg, and Jean M. Harrington, Jacksonville; and six grandchildren, Morgan Maria McQueen, Annemarie Nicole Anders, Clare Ashlyn McQueen, Jenna Frances McQueen, Bailee Nicole McQueen and Joshua Thomas McQueen, all of St. Petersburg. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center, Ninth Street Chapel.

Friends may call Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home, Ninth Street Chapel, where a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery.

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