Extracted from The Gridley Herald (Gridley, CA)
BYRON AND BLANCHE CLEMENTS
A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, October 12, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel for Byron, 88, and Blanche Clements, 82, of Paradise, California. He passed away on March 12, 2005, in Temple, Texas and she passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2006, at Enloe Medical Center of natural causes.
He was born on July 22, 1916 in Eden, Idaho and she was born on December 21, 1923 in Demming, New Mexico. They were long-time residents of Gridley. He was a miner and electrician by trade. He also served in the Cal Conservation CORPS, building many of the roads in Magalia, including Saw Mill Peak Rd. He had a strong work ethic. He enjoyed woodworking, designing and building. He was a past president of the Teamsters Union Local 849 for 20 years and was instrumental in negotiating the benefits enjoyed by those retired today. He worked for Libby's for 32 years and was head electrician, building much of the machinery.
She was a homemaker and devoted mother and together they raised many foster children. She also worked at Libby's for 32 years. She enjoyed gardening and sewing. Together they farmed walnuts and prunes on Larkin Road in Gridley for over 36 of their 63 years of marriage. They were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Gridley.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister and she was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.
They are survived by two daughters; Teressa Clements and domestic partner, Louise Jamel of Paradise, California and Janet Weatherbie of Maine and one son, Dale Clements of Texas. They are also survived by two grandsons, Seth Jamel of Vacaville, CA and David Segress of Chico, California; one granddaughter, Cheryl Anne Scott of Graham, Kentucky and five great-grandchildren. Blanche is survived by two sisters; Jane Eggleston of Oroville, CA and Grace Corona of Olivehurst, CA.
Pastor Nick Sorani of the First Presbyterian Church in Gridley will officiate at the services.
A Visitation will be held for Blanche on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.
A private interment will be held at Paradise Cemetery.
Contributions to the Shriners Hospital and Odyssey, a hospice in Texas are suggested by the family and may be left in care of Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.
Arrangements are under the direction of Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006