Clara E. “Babe” Campbell, 99, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away peacefully at 2:20 am Saturday, August 16, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family.
Clara “Babe” was born on July 19, 1926, in Fort Scott, KS, to Alex Andre Redden and Susan Lemonia (Doty) Redden. She was named after her paternal grandmother and was the cherished only child of her parents. A true “Daddy’s girl,” she earned the affectionate nickname “Babe” from her father as a baby—a name that stayed with her throughout her life.
Babe attended Fort Scott schools, where she excelled academically, skipping the third grade and graduating from Fort Scott High School in 1942 at the age of 16. She went on to attend Fort Scott Community College for one year.
Gifted musically, Babe played the piano, oboe, clarinet, flute, and was also known for her accordion performances at local events.
On February 22, 1947, Babe married Gerald Campbell in Fort Scott, KS; he preceded her in death on June 13, 1983. The couple lived on the family farm near Redfield, Kansas, a place dear to Babe’s heart where she had spent many childhood summers fishing and camping along the Marmaton River.
In 1971, Babe began working at the Fort Scott Tribune as the classified advertising manager. For 25 years, she welcomed everyone with a smile from the front desk until her retirement in 1996. Babe was a kind, loving, and generous woman who made lasting friendships across all generations. She touched many lives with her warmth and welcoming spirit.
She and Gerald were blessed with two daughters: Susan Maye Quick and Cindy Bowman (husband John Bowman); five grandchildren: Becky Warfield (husband Sean), Jodi Murrow (husband Nick), Dru Bowman (wife Andrea), Cole Bowman (wife Wendy), and Alex Bowman (wife Carissa); and twelve great-grandchildren: Gavin Warfield, Cooper Murrow, Alivia, Jaxon, Asher, and Jentry Bowman, Gracie and Campbell Bowman, Luke and Nora Bowman, Lily and Gage Saldivar. Babe was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and son-in-law Rodger Quick.
Memorial Graveside Services will be at 10:00 am Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Woods Cemetery in Redfield, KS, with Pastor Danny Brown officiating. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery for services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks expressions of sympathy to be in the form of memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Friends may drop off or mail memorials to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 66762. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements and services are under the direction of David Grimaldi of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.
