This was written and read by my dad (Jesse Locksa) for Grandpa's funeral:
Dad’s History
We are here today to celebrate the life of Marion Cecil Clement.
Dad was a very kind humble man who was uncomplicated in how he focused his life. If I was to pick three things to describe how he dedicated his life they would be “God- Family- Country”. These were the three things he valued and cherished the most and where he focused his energy.
Dad was born on December 12, 1918, in Mesa Arizona, the son of Warren Foote Clement and Druzilla Rogers Clement. He grew up on a farm and attended Alma grade School and Mesa High School.
Dad had four brothers; Tom; Vernal; Glen; and Ronald. He had four sisters; Elizabeth; Marva; Melva; and Dortha Mae.
Dad enjoyed life on the farm and loved helping with the farm work. Dad’s mother described dad as a beautiful loving child who loved his daddy very much and was dedicated to his family. Dad really enjoyed sports and played baseball, softball and basketball while attending school. Dad was very skilled as a baseball player. When dad entered high school his father began working a full-time job, and also ran the farm. Dad knew that this was hard on his father so he gave up his love of sports and quit sports so he could help his father more with the daily work and take some of the load off his father.
Even though the work was not easy dad loved to work next to his father. He also became good at planting and raising crops.
Now we get to the good part where mom and dad met. Mom was raised in Pine Arizona. Pine did not have a high school, which was a good thing for dad, so mom lived with relatives in Mesa so she could attend high school. Mom became friends with dad’s sister “Melva” and met dad when mom stopped over to visit Melva. After a period of time mom and dad began dating. One day, mom and dad went on a date with another couple to Nogales, Mexico. When they returned to Arizona they learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor---it was December 7, 1941. Dad and mom continued to date and on June 19, 1942, they were married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple.
Dad was proud of America and proud to serve his country so on December 8, 1942, dad joined the U. S. Army. On April 15, 1943, their first son Glen was born in Fort Smith Arkansas. On June 9, 1944, their second son John was born in San Antonio, Texas.
Dad then went overseas and Mom stayed behind with Glen and John. During World War II dad served in England, France, and Belgium. While overseas a dramatic event occurred. Dad was on a ship that was going from England to France. The ship was suddenly hit by a torpedo and the ship was sinking. There were people on the ship who lost their lives and there were many wounded. Dad stayed on the ship with others who helped get people off until the ship was clear. Shortly after dad and the others left the ship; it sunk. This is a great example of how dad has always placed the needs of others before his own. “Dad received a commendation” I will read it; Marion C. Clement, to You who answered the call of your country and served in its Armed Forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy, I extend the heartfelt thanks of a grateful Nation. As one of the Nation’s finest, you undertook the most severe task one can be called upon to perform. Because you demonstrated the fortitude, resourcefulness and calm judgment necessary to carry out that task, we now look to you for leadership and example in further exalting our country in peace, “ Signed by President Harry Truman”.
Another significant part of this story is that if dad had not survived the attack, the family I will describe to you would not have occurred.
In 1945, after the victory in Europe, Dad returned home. He and mom lived in Mesa in a house mom purchased for $700 out money she saved while dad was overseas. Dad worked in his brother Tom’s garage for six years after his return from the war.
Mom and Dad then moved to another house in Gilbert where four more children were born. On November 7, 1946, the 3rd child, Charlotte was born; On December 2, 1947, the 4th child, Melvin was born; On February 26, 1950, the 5th child, Julene was born; On June 30th, 1951, the 6th child, Janette was born. The small house in Gilbert was becoming smaller. In 1951 the family moved to Phoenix to the house they were still living in.
After moving to Phoenix, mom and dad had five more children. On July 30, 1953, the 7th child, Darrell was born; On March 6, 1957, the 8th child, Carl was born. On January 22, 1960, the 9th and 10th children (Twins), Sheila and Sharon were born. On May 24, 1963, the 11th child, Debra Mae was born.
This was the start of a really large family. When dad received his patriarchal blessing he was told he would have a large posterity. When mom and dad were married and sealed in the Temple dad was again told he would have a large family. When dad heard this he was concerned about providing for a large family. In spite of his concerns he knew the Lord would provide the way. I can tell you now that dad found the way.
Mom and Dad’s 11 children have given them 64 grandchildren and 110 great-grandchildren. There are also 56 spouses that have married into the family. This number totals 241 and this number is rapidly growing. If we all lived in the same area, we could qualify as a small town.
I received many stories from the family of experiences they have had with dad. Many of the stories were the same because we all enjoyed these experiences and activities together as a family. The family would put a lot of time and effort into these family outings because mom and dad taught us the importance of doing things together to keep our family strong.
Dad was an outstanding horseshoe player and loved to play with his family. Horseshoes was one of the main activities at family campouts. The grandchildren loved to have dad teach them how to play. When it was time to play, everyone wanted to be on dad’s team. Everyone would come up with a variety of reasons why they should be on dad’s team If you were not lucky enough be on dad’s team, you then wanted to be opposite of the side dad was throwing on so you did not have to throw against dad. Dad’s accuracy and the amount of ringers he would throw were amazing. Dad usually won but that was never that important to him. He just loved doing things with his family and having a great time. He really loved watching the little grandchildren throwing the plastic horseshoes and hearing them laugh and seeing how much fun they were having.
Dad loved to play volleyball with his family. He really got a lot of enjoyment out of all the laughter and fun everyone had during these games. The score never really mattered. I was reminded that when it was becoming more difficult for dad to bend over and to hit or pick-up the ball he would kick the ball off the ground or pop the ball up in the air with his feet which would please and amaze the all the kids. In a lot of our films of family activities you see dad playing sports with his family.
Dad was so much fun to be with. I really enjoyed the story about dad teaching the grandchildren how to skip. After they learned how to skip they were skipping everywhere they went and were laughing and having a great time and that really pleased dad.
Dad loved to plant and grow things. As I mentioned earlier, he worked the crops on the family farm. During the summers Mom and Dad lived up in Pine where they would grow a large garden. All the family would benefit from the garden because they would share everything they grew. Dad loved to work the garden and loved to share the garden with his family. We all received boxes of fresh produce from mom and dad’s garden.
Dad was a skilled handyman that was always ready to help his family. Dad would do everything from helping to build a house to helping his children move from one house to the other or to do needed repairs. It did not matter if he had to go across town, across the country or half-way around the world to Germany, dad would be there with mom at his side.
I heard many stories of how mom would be working along side of dad handing him nails when he was hammering, tools when he was working on a vehicle, giving him food as he worked, or anything else dad needed.
I also was reminded about a push-pull merry-go-round that the children loved to play on very much. Because it was used so much it would break down. Each time dad came to the rescue and repaired it, sometimes taking it to Uncle Tom’s garage to weld it. Dad loved to make his children happy and it was clearly a labor of love and he loved watching his family having fun together.
Dad was an outstanding mechanic. He was always helping and teaching us how to repair vehicles. Even when the cars became more difficult to work on, dad was always able to identify mechanical problems and knew how to solve the problem. Many members of the family told stories of how dad helped them rebuild an engine or transmission or repair some other problem they were having with their vehicle. Dad always enjoyed working with his family.
I read about trips or vacations the family was on when they would have unexpected vehicle problems. Dad was always able to fix the problem and get them going again. Dad loved to tinker. At Pine he has a tractor he used to work and mow the property with. It is an older tractor but dad is always able to keep it running. A lot of the grandchildren have had the opportunity to ride on that tractor through the years. The grandchildren loved working next to dad because he would teach them things and they loved him so much for it.
Dad and mom brought all of us together for a lifetime of family activities.
Annual family campout
Family picnics
Trips to Pine (campfires)
Christmas Thanksgiving Easter
Various other holidays (like 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day etc)
“Numerous Baptisms Birthdays Baby blessings Missionary Farewells, Missionary Homecomings, Graduations, Weddings, Scout Ceremonies
The list goes on and on. This family had activities on a weekly basis and Mom and Dad was always there when possible.
There were many trips to National Parks; Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons, Glacier, Mt. Rushmore, Sequoia, Bryce’s and Zion Canyons and many more.
I want to share a few stories that came out of these trips. While traveling; space in the vehicle was always tight. Dad made a seat out of a water jug. This seat had more leg room and everyone anxiously awaited their turn on this seat.
On a trip to Yellowstone the boys were in a tent and mom and dad were in the trailer. The boys were known for their ability to exaggerate. One night Glen and John went to the trailer and told dad a bear tried to get in their tent. Dad asked if the bear was still there and the boys said no. Dad felt the boys were exaggerating and told them to go to bed. In the morning dad discovered that a bear had tried to get in the tent and then learned that the boys had taken food into the tent- which they were not allowed to do. I do not think anyone admitted who is responsible for the food to this day.
Dad loved to tell all of us stories about different things. He would tell us about the depression, World War II and his life in the military. He would tell us about his family and growing up on a farm. He also told us about the trips to Hawaii and back east to visit historical sites with his brothers and sisters. His stories would tell of his love of God, his love for his country and his love of his family.
I don’t know who enjoyed the stories more. Dad telling the stories or all of us hearing them. Over the years we all began recording and making notes of these stories because they mean so much to us and we cherish the information. Many times the grandchildren sat spellbound by dad’s stories. We love him for sharing these stories with us.
Dad’s family was built on a tradition of doing things together. I learned of a Valentine’s Day tradition where mom would bake sugar cookies and the children would help frost and decorate them. They would then put the cookies on a plate with a valentine’s card. Dad would then drive them to the homes of relatives. They would lay the cookies and valentines on the porch, ring the doorbell, and then run and hide laughing with excitement. This tradition still exists today.
Dad was a very spiritual man and spent his entire life as a faithful member of the church; committed to serving his Heavenly Father. Dad not only taught his children the gospel, he lived the gospel as an example for them to follow. Dad provided his children with unconditional love and the direction and guidance they needed and then allowed them to make their own choices.
All five of dad’s sons served Church missions. All eleven of dad’s children had Temple marriages. Throughout the years dad has provided priesthood and father’s blessings as well as other priesthood ordinances as needed by the family.
Dad was always willing to share the gospel with others and enjoyed doing missionary work for the church. People always talked about how dad was a great home teacher and shared his love with them, especially the less active members.
The children sent me many stories of the great love that existed within the family. This love was a result of the example set by mom and dad. In all the years they were together they always showed a great love for each other. Dad and mom were always kissing and holding hands. Mom was always at dad’s side and dad was always opening doors for mom.
While dad was overseas during World War II, mom sent letters that she signed, “Your loving wife.” She sealed the envelope and then placed lipstick over the seal by kissing the envelope. The family told of the many romantic things dad did for mom and described mom and dad as the cutest couple they had ever seen. Dad enjoyed teasing mom and would tickle her because she was so ticklish. The children remember all the laughing that went on between them. Mom and dad did everything together in over 66 years of marriage.
Dad had very strong feelings on the sanity of marriage. One day, dad and mom double dated with John and JoLynn to see Dr Zhivago. Everyone was talking about how great the movie was. After seeing the movie, Jo Lynn, who is a music person, commented on how beautiful the music was. Dad replied, that was a terrible movie, that guy cheated on his wife and no real man would ever cheat on his wife. Dad did not like that part of the movie, which involved a man cheating on his wife.
Dad loved to hear his family sing. When we would sing to mom and dad on special occasions dad would get misty eyed many times he would join in. He would say that his family sounded like angels singing. Church and patriotic songs were his favorite. Dad had a very special day the day before he passed away. All day long there was a continuous line of family visiting him and many songs were sung to dad. Dad would join in as much as he could and he would have that misty look in his eyes while he was hearing his angels sing to him.
Dad left this world a very wealthy man. This wealth was not in worldly possessions because these things were not important to dad. For many years dad was able to satisfy the physical and spiritual needs of his wife and children as they grew-up. He continued by forming a tremendous bond within his family that has held them together in a close relationship built on eternal love. He has never turned down a person in need and never expected anything in return.
There are 56 of us who married into the Clement Family. Dad did not just accept us into the family; he made us a part of the family. He was such a warm, kind, and loving man calling him dad was so natural.
In today’s world we often hear about people who are presented to us as a hero and sometimes it is confusing on why they are considered a hero. With our dad it is very clear. He is the greatest man we have ever known. He is our hero.
Our church, our nation, and our family are blessed because of dad’s presence on this earth. Dad, we will miss having you with us for now, but you will be in our hearts and minds forever. We will rejoice when we are reunited together again.
