Claudia McKell

Claudia Lee Ord McKell passed away peacefully on August 14, 2026, surrounded by her family. Claudia was born in Turlock, California, on January 20, 1936, to Elden and Leola Ord. She had a simple and happy childhood, raised in the gospel of Jesus Christ by loving parents. Throughout her life, the things that mattered most to Claudia were her faith in God and her family.

On August 31, 1956, she married Eldon McKell in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. Together they made their homes in Fullerton, Yucaipa, Tustin, and finally Riverside, California. Claudia was the perfect match for Eldon. He was tough; she was soft. He knew when to be serious, and she knew when life needed a little more fun. They balanced each other beautifully. Together they raised four children: Monica, Mark, Myles, and Matthew.

If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Claudia, you probably heard about how much she loved serving alongside her husband when he was called as president of the Alabama Birmingham Mission. Those three years were one of the great highlights of her life. She became a beloved “mission mom” to countless young missionaries, many of whom continued to write, call, and visit her for years afterward. She had a way of making people feel loved and remembered and taught valuable life lessons.

After their time in Alabama, Claudia and Eldon continued serving the Lord together in St. George and Provo, Utah. Service was simply a part of who she was. She dedicated her life to the Lord and to her family.

In her later years, Claudia lived in the tree streets of Provo, Utah, overlooking the valley and one of her very favorite places—Brigham Young University. She was a devoted BYU fan and loved watching just about any sporting event she could. Her children and grandchildren often gathered at her home before and after football games, cheering on the Cougars through every win and every loss.

Because she lived so close to BYU, her home naturally became a gathering place for her grandchildren as they came to Provo for college. She was known as “Grammy,” not only by her family, but by many of the college friends who found their way to her home for Sunday dinner.

Almost every conversation with Grammy included a line from a song or poem she had memorized—and if you were lucky, she would sing it to you. She seemed to have a song for every occasion. She could sense when someone was going through a hard time and would often sing “I Made It Through the Rain” by Barry Manilow.

During some of Claudia’s final hours on earth, Provo experienced its first big rainstorm in a long time. For those who knew Grammy and knew how much that song meant to her, it felt especially fitting. You could say that one of the last things she did was make it through the rain.

I made it through the rain
I kept my world protected
I made it through the rain
I kept my point of view
I made it through the rain
And found myself respected
By the others who
Got rained on, too
And made it through

Claudia made it through the rain staying strong in the gospel all her life. She was respected by all who knew her. She influenced many to follow Jesus Christ. Her kids and grandkids loved her dearly as someone who kept her family together and focused on what matters most in life.

Claudia was preceded in death by her husband Eldon, her loving parents Elden and Leola Ord, and her dear brother John Ord. She is survived by her four children, 18 grandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren. She was as generous as they come and would constantly pull a grandkid aside, slip them a $20 and say “it’s your turn”. She found great joy in helping and supporting her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids when they needed it.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 29, 2026 at the Oak Hills 4th Ward Chapel, 925 North Temple Drive, Provo, Utah. The family will receive friends from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will follow at the Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended online at www.bergmortuary.com.