Obituary of Darrell Clyde Clements

Darrell was born in Tillamook, OR to a pioneer dairy ranch family on December 31, 1919. He passed into eternal life on his 91st birthday, December 31, 2010 at his home in Tacoma, WA after a 2 year battle with declining health. At 11 years old, his dad was killed in an accident on the ranch as the two of them were leaving to go fishing. His grandparents then raised him. There were many stories about milking 23 head of cattle before and after school. He joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Tech Sergeant 41st infantry, 162nd Battalion, 3rd Platoon, Company K, he served in WWII, Pacific Theater, including the jungles of New Guinea, Biak Island and the Philippines. He was awarded the Bronze Star, and 2 Purple Hearts. He told and retold his many war time stories for the rest of his life. Member of the DAV and Purple Hearts, he called commands for firing squads at military funerals for many years after retirement. After the war, he married Eleanor Donovan of Tacoma, WA. Living in Tillamook, OR for their first 10 years, he was a deputy sheriff, an assistant mortician and logger for Tillamook Bay Lumber Co., where he also managed shipping operations. Having a love of flying, he obtained his pilot’s license and flew small planes out of Tillamook Airport for pleasure. Taking their 2 young daughters with them, they moved to Las Vegas, NM for a few years where he managed a logging operation in a 5000 acre forest called Chicone. Moving to Spokane, WA, he sold fire equipment for General Fire, owned by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Harry and Betty Siria. Back to Tacoma, in 1962, he was a journeyman master mechanic for Container Corp. of America until his retirement in 1984. Dad loved to travel, fish, work in his shop, visit with family and friends, Sunday breakfasts and sitting around the fire pit at Vicki and Barney’s, his retirement group gatherings, telling his lifetime stories and was especially excited when Barney’s friend Tim would call to ask if he wanted to go flying in Tim’s airplane, once even forgetting to put his shoes on before racing out the door. Dad was a very wise and strong willed person with courage and strength to keep moving on in life. He always put his family first. He had a very private and personal relationship with God, which supported him in his youth, through WWII and the rest of his life. As we grieve his loss, we are also aware that his 91st birthday present was his reunion with our mom, his grandparents and especially with his dad, for that long overdue fishing trip. A life well lived, and at ease now, Sergeant Clements. Preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Eleanor, dad Buryl Clements, mother Lillian (Adams) Clements-Jemmison, step-father Jimmy Jemmison and grandparents Clyde and Effie Clements. Survived by daughters Janet Winston and Vicki Casteel, son-In-law, Barney Casteel, grandchildren Jason (Judy) Griffin and Aaron (Jessica) Winston, great-grandchildren Matthew, Evan, twins Ashlee and Courtnee, Wyatt, Noah and Eleanor (Ellie), cousin Eleanor McCord-Dudley and family of Oklahoma, special friends and companions, Cooper, his dog and Blackie the cat. Special thanks to Franciscan Hospice, especially Amanda, Pat and Nichole, for their care and compassion during our dad’s last days. Memorial will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Saturday, January 22, 2010, at 10:00am. To sign guest book, please go to www.edwardsmemorial.com.