Claudia Ella Mae Graef

Arizona lost one of its fashion pioneers on December 22nd, 2023.  Known to some as Claudia Brooks, Claudia Ella Mae Graef went on to her last Fashion Show in heaven at age 97.  Born in Las Cruces, New Mexico on April 23, 1926, Claudia moved to her grandparent’s farm in Coolidge, Arizona with her parents Katie and Albert Bamert during the great depression.  At the age of 10, Claudia moved again with her parents and her sister Doris to Blythe, California.  Living in a mud house on 160 acres of a homestead farm, Claudia graduated from Palo Verde High School in 1943.

From there she attended Arizona State University.  It was during this time of her life that Claudia became interested in fashion and beauty.  Being crowned the Princess of the 1946 Sun Bowl in El Paso inspired her to start a modeling career.  Claudia married and moved with her two children to Yuma Arizona. After a move to Phoenix in 1957, she started her career in fashion at The Flair School of Modeling with owner Helen Ross.  

In 1961, she was hired by Diamonds Department Store as its Fashion Coordinator.  Her responsibilities included overseeing the displays throughout the store, showcasing the latest fashions by having models “walk the store” as well as producing and commentating for the weekly fashion shows in Diamond’s famed Tea Room at Park Central Mall and later the newly built Thomas Mall.  Diamond’s added head buyer duties to Claudia’s expanding role.  That required travel to New York and Los Angeles to seek out and bring back to Arizona, the latest and current fashion trends.  

In the late 1960’s Claudia collaborated again with Helen Ross as partner by opening Plaza Three Modeling School.  Plaza Three became the go to place for many young women in the 1960 ’s.  One such student was Vonda Kaye Van Dyke, Arizona’s very own Miss America in 1965.  Claudia remained active following the sale of Plaza Three in the mid 1970’s. When Macy’s Department Store decided to open a store in Phoenix, Claudia was hired in a consulting capacity to get the store up and running.  In her later years, she ran a successful jewelry business named Plaza Designs.

Claudia was preceded in death by her daughter Elizabeth Sever and her husband of 60 years David W. Graef, Ph.D.  She is survived by her son William Albert Nebeker (wife Janelle Flynn Nebeker) and Claudia’s six grandchildren, Matt Nebeker, Zachary Shoush, Trevor Shoush (India), Marshall Nebeker (Tessa), Garrett Nebeker (Connor Hay) and Blythe Nebeker and her four Great Grand Children: Bodie Nebeker, Emma Nebeker, Sienna Shoush and Sadie Shoush.