Willie Robert Clanton, Jr.
May 24, 1943 - April 2, 2008
Obituary
In loving memory of Willie Robert Clanton, Jr.
May 24, 1943-April 2, 2008
Willie was born to Willie Robert Clanton, Sr. and Grace Lewis Clanton Pauley on May 24th 1943 in Mobile Alabama. Willie moved to Seattle Washington with his father in 1949 at the age of 6. At that time Willie Sr. would go on to marry Sarah Edmund Clanton McKinney who would raise him to be the good man he was. Raised in the ‘valley’ located in the Central District . He attended Harrison Elementary, Meany Jr. High and graduated from Garfield High with the class of 1960. He went on to serve 3 years in the United States Army as a Blaster with the Co.A 35th Engr. Brigade Ft. Lewis Washington 6th U.S. Army.
At 21 years of age he landed a job as a Metro Transit bus driver and later advanced to become a Base Chief. He would be there for 37 years. Willie retired at age 58. He loved sports, walking Beacon Ave. and reading. Willie lived his life the way he liked and loved, he enjoyed it. He will be deeply missed.
He joins his natural parents in Heaven. Leaving behind his mother Sarah Clanton McKinney, his four children Cherie Lynn Clanton Spells, Michael Robert Clanton, Christopher Clanton, Aaron Desrochers. His ex-wife Jeanette Clanton, his brother Earl Clanton, grandchildren: Seth Hornby, Kaylin Hornby and Milika Hornby, including a host of relatives, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD. Remember you would say “you don’t mess with “The Mohammar? Well not only are they messing wit em they trying to kill him. I don’t know. Anyway i am fine and well. I ran my ship a ground a strange place but I am sure I can fix it and continue to sail daddy, don’t worry, Love you always.
Happy Birthday pop!!! It is midnight on the Last Quarter Moon. Time for a New Season. Harvest time for some and for others major loss. Stagnant growth, cloudy upward mobility. But I am feeling a bit centered through it all. Blessings Daddy, thank all for communing for me at the heavenly table. I thank the Lord for his heavenly grace. Cherie shang lizzy, your tiger. Love
This year dad I just posted ya on Facebook.
Happy Birthday Daddy, I love you miss you and well, save a place for me. love you always
Happy Easter dad. You and mom would hide the Easter Eggs every year for your children. me, mike & chris. I would try to find them all you didnt know sometime i would try to see where you were hiding them but i bet you knew that did’nt you? Love always your daugther Cherie Spells. Me and grandma went to visit grandpa at Greenwood Cemetary Wendsday she found him on her own cause I could not remember the exact location she told me she said Lord help me find my husband your dad and guess what she was right at his resting place we had a good stay and will go back again soon. Smile.
DAD I AM SO GLAD I MADE THIS WEB PAGE. THIS IS THE BEST THING I MAY HAVE ACHEIVED IN MY LIFE TIME. A DEDICATED PAGE FOR MY FATHER. i LOVE YOU DADDY AND NO MATTER WHAT THERE IS NOTHING OR NOBODY THAT WILL EVER REPLACE THE LOVE I HAVE FOR YOU. SINCERLY MY DEEPEST HEART YOUR LOVING DAUGHTER CHERIE. WE WILL BE CLELEBRATING YOUR 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SOON. I MISS YOU DEARLY. SEE YOU THERE DADDY AND YOU BETTER KNOW ME.
Hey dad i MIss u dearly and i cant wait to see u in heaven, love you! :
Hey Grandpa i miss you ALOT and i cant wait to see u in heaven love you much hugs and Kiss :!!!
HI DAD, HAPPY FATHERS DAY. I MISS U EVERYDAY DAD I LOVE YOU A WHOLE BUNCH. YOUR SON MIKE C
BUD-I KNOW YOU HAD A GLORIOUS BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY WALKING ALL AROUND IN HEAVEN WITH THOSE THAT LOVE YOU- THINKING OF YOU- HAPPY BIRTHDAY-YOUR SISTER- PHYLLIS
To my Uncle Bud and his family:
I wish to offer my sincerest condelences for your loss. I didn’t know my uncle well but I remember him fondly. When he came to Mobile to visit, my mother would cook Shrimp Creole for him and my DaddyEddie Shahid. I remember him being full of laughter and of good spirit. I hope this message reaches all of you in good health and spirit, and I pray that you receive healing through this tough time. I feel lucky to have known my Uncle Bud and I look forward to meeting the family : Take care
HEY POP,I KNOW THIS IS TOTALLY INSANE AS DO YOU.AND IKNOW YOUR LAUGHING,BUT I’M SO HAPPY WITH ALL THE GOOD THINGS PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT YOU.IT’S HARD WHEN YOUR LEADER GO’S AWAY.FOR ME ANYWAY, BUT IM JUST SO GLAD THAT YOU’RE OUT OF PAIN. AS WE DISCUSSED AND WE CAME TOO THE CONCLUSION THAT MAYBE DEAD IS BETTER. I’LL FOREVER MISS MY FATHER I LOVED AND CARED FOR HIM A GREAT DEAL. I KNOW THAT IT’S NOT GOODBYE, SEE YOU AT THE CROSSROADS POP. YOUR FIRST BORN SON MICHAEL ROBERT CLANTON
To Cherie & Family,
Thinking of you in the loss of your beloved Dad. My prayers & thought are with you & the family. May the Lord be near you. Asking God to keep you close in this difficult time. With the sympathy & understanding that words can’t express. I love you & Take Care always.
God Bless,
Marites
Daddy, my heart my soul, I love you daddy and miss you greatly. I am trying hard to go on. I am tired and emotionaly drained. Daddy cant wait to see you again save a place for me, tell my cat Boo-Diddy i love him and miss him too. Your fisrt born.
So sorry to hear about your loss Cherie, you have my love and blessings for you and your family.
Bud, I only met you twice but those two times were like a lifetime of love.
We love you.
The Finkley Family
Victor, Wyconda, Victoria, Annie Ruth, Sean
My deepest sympothy goes out to my brother’s family. Even though time had seperated us and we were taken to different paths does not mean the love and thoughts had passed. I still carry you in my heart and soul knowing you lived a full life with much love and now leaving us to go above for this I shall say I will see you again one day!
Love your baby brother
Gregory Pauley
Cherie and Family-
I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one. You and your family are in our thoughts. Cherie, if you need help in any way, please feel free to let me know.
Our condolences,
Paul McCarroll and Family
We share your lost here in Mobile Alabama this message is from Que, Maya, Vincent, Kristen once you experience great people it makes you strive to achieve the same..WITH LOVE FROM YOUR FAMILY IN MOBILE ALABAMA..
We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a generous and well respected man. He will be missed. Our prayers are with the Clanton family. God bless.
UNCLE BUD, I WILL MISS OUR LONG CONVERSATIONS AND THE SAGE COUNSEL YOU WOULD OFFER ME. LOVE YOU ALWAYS
BUD YOU WILL BE TRULY MISSED BY ALL WHO LOVED YOU. LOVE YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW.
To the Clanton Family,
My deepest thoughts and prayers are with you all in your time of loss. Cheri is a good friend to me and if she or anyone needs anything, please let me know. God bless.
Stephen Savage & Family
Uncle “Buddy”,
I am so glad that I got to see you just recently, you will always be in my heart.Rest in peace.
Tanya Hunter
UNCLE BUD-WE WILL MISS YOU-MAY YOU REST IN PEACE-YOUR FAMILY-TREMAINE AND JERMAINE, DARRON, RAEISHA,KEITH, ANEESHA, PATRICE, RASHAD, QASIM, RAJEEYAH,HAFEEZA, ZARINAH AND JAMILLA-MOBILE,AL
I’ve gone now,
I thought the time was right
I’ve said good-bye
To the pain filled and lonely nights
I’ve lived my life and did my best,
An example I’ve tried to be.
So, I took that step beyond
And set my sprit free.
I didn’t want to go at first.
I fought with all my might.
But, something seemed to draw me
To a warm and loving light.
I know you’re sad and afraid;
Because, I see your tears.
But, know that this is different;
Just knowing him calms your fears.
I’ll not be far, I promise that
And hope you’ll always know,
That my sprit will be close to you
Whereever you may go.
Thank you so much for loving me;
You know I loved you, too.
That’s why it was hard to say
good-bye And end this life with you
So, love me now and for all times,
And let me hear you say
Because you care so much for me,
You’ll let me go today.
Bud, I’ll miss our long talks.
I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the family during their time of bereavement.
“Love always Diane”
My condolences to the family. Willie was a joy to work with. I will miss him.
I met Willie when we attended a two week training session at Wharton School of Business and then had the privilege of working with him as a base chief at Central Base. Willie always stayed calm and retained his sense of humor during the bouts of chaos at the base. Whenever I needed a dose of reality, I’d check with Willie and it would get delivered with a smile and, at times, with a raised eyebrow if my ideas were a bit over the edge. I believe we had a great team at Central and much of that was due to Willie.
My deepest sympathy to Willie’s family.
Love you! If you need anything we are here for you.
Cherie, My family and I are so sorry for your loss. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
My deepest condolences to Cherie and The Clayton Family. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of need.
To: Jeanette, Cherie, Michael, Chris and other family members…
Please except our condolences and please don’t grieve for long…Bud is now free…He followed the path that God laid. He took his hand when he heard the call; He turned his back and left it all. He could not stay another day, To laugh, to love to work or play; Task left undone must stay that way; He found peace at the close of that day. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all, if there is anything we can do don’t hesitate to call….We Love You! Robert Dale, Patricia and family
My prayers and condolence to the Clanton family.Worked with Willie at seattle and metro transit for more than 35 years. We all will miss Willie from his walks and smiles.
The value of Bud’s friendship over these last twenty years, has been priceless. He will be greatly missed. Ec7:1 says “the day of death is better than of one’s being born”. Take comfort in knowing that Bud feels no more pain and for that we can be grateful.
Hi Buddy,
Thinking about you down in the “valley” at Miss Pringles house we had fun times. I remember when I use to do your mothers hair.
Wilma Joyce Pringle Jordan
April 8, 2008
To doggie aka: Cherie Lynn Clanton my dear counsin, Your dad was always the “big man” on campus. May God rest his soul.
Love,
Gail Jordan Glass
April 8, 2008
BUD YOU WILL BE SADLY MISSED BY ALL OF YOUR SIBLINGS: EDDIE, EARL, PHYLLIS, LENETTA, SHARRON, MARCHELL,GREGORY, YOUR NEICES AND NEPHEWS YOUR COUSIN ANN, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. UNTIL WE ALL MEET AGAIN. WE LOVED YOU DEARLY. SAY HELLO TO OUR MOTHER, OUR TWO SISTERS AND BROTHER.
Hi Jeanette, and all his family. Sorry for your lost. I will stop by Bonney – Watson to say good by to Wille. Also I will stop by the house. Jeanette, you can get my phone # from Gail.
Dillard Jordan
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU .
Cherie and family, you are in my thoughts.
To the family of Willie: Many years pass before we realize another flower has flown away and how emersed our lives have gotten and old friends are forgotten until we hear of their untimely death. Willie had a very sweet spirit and enjoyed his friends. I knew him from Meany and through Garfield, class of 62. I’ll miss my friend.
To The Clanton Family who are my dear cousins: Bud will be greatly missed. I loved his smile and looked up to him as my “brother” since I was a child. I am pleased to have had the opportinity to talk with him often over the last few month of his life. May God rest his soul in peace.
BUD- THERE IS AN EMPTY SPACE IN MY HEART WITH YOUR PASSING- BUT I KNOW THAT GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES-I LOVE AND MISS YOU VERY MUCH FOREVER AND EVER-
YOUR SISTER-PHYLLIS-MOBILE,AL
“Until we meet again”
I am saddened to hear of Willie’s passing. I worked with Willie on and off through most of his career at Metro, he made the job easier with his genuine smile and joyful attitude. I also played on the Metro softball team with him, he loved my brother’s bat called the “Fence Finder†but never quite found the fence; he always hit the ball past it. Willie will be greatly missed but will live forever in our hearts and minds.
My deepest condolences,
Willie was a Quiet Giant at Metro. He never looked for pats on the back or accolades for his effective and compassionate administration for Metro and its employees. Not from the numerous employees that owe Willie for their jobs, who made one mistake and Willie, behind the scenes, got them another chance nor the Black Transit Workers Assn that Willie gave us insight and leadership on how to deal with the discriminatory practices by the Union and certain individuals that worked at Metro at the time.
Willie made decisions, personal an professional, based upon the morality and ethical considerations of the matter and made so many unsuspecting lives, including my own, so much better because of his intervention. The Quiet Giant, my friend, will always be a part of my and many, many lives that so many of us individually acknowledge and not compare notes but will be honored and blessed that Willie was part of our lives.
His wishes not to have a memorial service is consistent with the way he did things but I, for one, would love to shout from the rooftops that Willie was one of the Baaaadisst Black Men To Set Foot On This Planet.
John C. Eichelberger
Seattle Washington
Rest in Peace Uncle Bud
Dad, 50 today. This is really crazy to me, I always wondered if I would make it. I am blessed by God. I hope all is peace where ever you are, I miss you
Dad, 50 today. This is really crazy to me, I always wondered if I would make it. I am blessed by God. I hope all is peace where ever you are, I miss you