Donald Mervin Clemens
June 26, 1930 - May 29, 2022
Obituary
Donald Mervin Clemens who was born June 26, 1930, went to join his beloved Beverlee Jane at age 91 on Memorial Day, May 29, 2022. He was preceded in death by the love of his life and mother of his 4 children after 63 years of marriage on October 26, 2013.
Don grew up on a farm in Des Moines, Iowa. His beginnings were modest, and he would wake up and milk cows before walking to school each day, and back to the chores on the farm daily upon his return home. When Don was in middle school, his eye caught sight of a beautiful little gal by the name of Bev. He tried many times to carry her books home from school for her. She would arrive home regularly crying that “the little fat boy” tried walking her home again. Fast forward to high school and gone were the days of the baby fat as Don had developed into a fit football player and school wrestling champion. Now it was him catching her eye, and the 2 married August 5, 1950 just 2 short months after graduation. Shortly after their vows, Beverlee found herself pregnant with their first child. Their son Alan who had meant to bring so much joy, would be born stillborn Memorial Day 1951 in Des Moines, Iowa. While Don and Bev were heartbroken, they held together through the loss and went on to have 3 more children for a total of 4 babies in 5 years. The 3 living children were all born in Wichita, Kansas over the next few years; Linda Charlene born October 2, 1952- John Sterling born November 11, 1954 & Billie Jo born October 27h, 1955.
Christmas 1951 Don and Bev went to visit Bev’s parents in Wichita, Kansas at which time the 2 were encouraged to apply to the Boeing Company. Both did and were hired. Bev stayed with her folks and went straight to work, while Don went back to Iowa to wrap up things for their move to Wichita. Don joined the Boeing company in 1952. That was the start of a 40-year career that took him to Seattle, Washington in the mid to late 50’s. He served as a company employee for 30 years, and another 10 years as Union Rep for IAM District 751. The two afforded as many opportunities as possible to share time with their loved ones while in Washington, including summers on the river at their property on the Cowlitz River.
Upon retirement in 1992, Don and his wife Bev enjoyed travelling. For the first several years they were able to see much of the country and visit family they hadn’t seen in some time by travelling in one of the handful of motorhomes they owned over that time. In 2004 Don and Bev purchased a home in Sun City West, Arizona. The Arizona home was originally intended as a snowbird destination for them however they found themselves travelling much more to resorts in Mexico and the like, leaving much less time spent at their home in Seattle. Before 2010, they sold the Washington home and made Arizona their permanent residence where they would both live out their final days.
Don leaves behind his 3 living children, 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.