Claudia Kay (Morris) Sprague, passed away peacefully, with her daughter and daughter-in-law by her side, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, just shy of her 85th birthday.

Claudia, also known as Sis, Hop or Claudehopper by her family and friends, was born on June 29, 1940, in Bradford, she was the daughter of Ken and Rita (Wurm) Morris.

She attended St. Bernard all through her school days and graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1958. 

Claudia married her one and only love, Walter F. “Peanut” Sprague, twice; the first time on April 22, 1961, in Cuba NY, where they eloped, and then on April 26th at St. Bernard Church in Bradford, with their parents and family present. 

They lived in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for the next two years where Walt was stationed in the U.S. Army. Their son was born in Oklahoma. 

They returned to Bradford, eventually settling on Langmaid Lane, where they raised their three children and enjoyed their remaining 47 years together, until Walt’s passing in 2008.

Claudia worked as a receptionist at the Bradford Hospital; as a clerk at Hanley Brick with a close group of female coworkers who loved to laugh and play practical jokes on their bosses, and then as office manager at the Bradford YMCA. She retired early from the YMCA to become a full-time grandma and babysitter. She then returned to work as a teacher’s aide at GGB Elementary School. 

When her youngest daughter was a Brownie, Claudia happily volunteered to serve as a troop leader with her niece-in-law Susie, providing memorable fun times for their troop of West Branch girls. 

She and her husband loved animals, and always had a home filled with dogs and cats, and the occasional rabbit, gerbils, and a parakeet. They especially loved basset hounds, having many of them throughout the years. They enjoyed the outdoors together and their days were spent camping, hunting, and fishing. Family camping started in a tent, then a pop-up, and then to a motor home that took many family trips up and down the east coast. She and Walt loved driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains in their modern conversion van along the Blue Ridge Parkway and spending time in Pigeon Forge in the Great Smoky Mountains. They enjoyed visiting their best friends Stan and Marcia Grove and their three sons, in Manassas, VA, times that were filled with laughter and love. 

In their retirement years, they bought a fifth-wheel camper and spent several summers as campground hosts at campgrounds including Willow Bay, Allegheny State Park, and Burnham State Park in the 1000 Islands. 

Claudia became a deer hunting enthusiast, spending hunting seasons in the woods with her husband, family, and the Grove boys. Her most memorable hunting moment was during buck season in 1989 when she shot an 8-point buck while hunting in City Timbers with her husband, daughter, future son-in-law and Stan, Stephen, and Stosh Grove. Her and her husband’s excited yells could be heard miles away at that moment!

She was affectionately known as Hop by her grandchildren, children, and family. She loved children and in addition to her grandchildren, she lovingly cared for several other children, including the Wagoner brothers, the Treat sisters, the Holt brothers, and the Vickery sisters; all of whom she loved very much. She provided summers filled with fun and games, neighborhood carnivals, swimming, road trips to Rock City Park, blackberry picking - there were no rules at Hop’s house!

She was also an avid gardener; she created beautiful flower and rock gardens at her home that were full of colorful blooms in the spring, summer, and fall. 

After her husband’s passing, she relocated to Canton, NY, with her beloved dog Corry and cat Willow, to be near her daughter and two grandchildren. She enjoyed being able to watch her granddaughter perform in school musicals, plays and concerts, and visiting her grandson at college in Vermont. While living in Canton, she volunteered at the Catholic elementary school and Thrift Store where she made several new friends. 

Claudia returned to Bradford as a resident of Chapel Ridge where she tended to one of the flower gardens, which was featured in the Bradford Era, and then most famously became known as the duck lady of Chapel Ridge when she began feeding the ducks who lived on the creek behind the residence. When she started quacking to let them know it was feeding time, they would flock to her side and follow her to the creek side feeding area. It was a sight to see!

She is survived by her children, Tracy (Amber Morrisroe) Sprague of Eldred, Marcell “Marcie” (Bryan) Mallette of Waterville, OH, and Katie (Matt George) Sprague of Clinton, NC; her grandchildren, Spencer Mallette, Madison (Austin) Pietras, Michael Sprague and Anthony Sprague; and her great grandson Gregory Pietras; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and one brother Kenny “Hawk” Morris.

At Claudia’s request her family will celebrate her life at a later date.

Memorial contributions, if desired may be made to the McKean County SPCA, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Claudia's family would like to thank the staff at the Bradford Ecumenical Home and Chapel Ridge for treating her like family and providing her with loving care in her final years.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com