Clema Jo Atkinson

Born June 9, 1926 in Seven-Mile, Ohio to Douglas C. Staley & Minnie O. Gividen Staley, passed from this life into glory with her Savior on Christmas Day, 2011 at the Inland Christian Home in Ontario, CA. She was predeceased by her devoted, loving husband, Arthur Wren Atkinson, Jr. on August 22, 2009 to whom she was married for 62 years. Clema and Arthur met when she ran for May Queen at the Ohio State University in Columbus, and he was her campaign manager. They were married while students in 1946, and she soon found herself in the role of a pastor's wife when he began preaching for the Church of Christ. Following the births of three children, the family moved to Southern California in 1960. After a year in San Bernardino, the Atkinson family moved to Grand Terrace where Clema Jo, Arthur Jr. and Arthur the III resided until 2009. An accomplished child musician, Clema Jo played the violin with the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra for a year. She provided a wonderful home for Arthur Jr. and the children by playing piano by ear, violin, creative writing, painting, and following the inspiration of Julia Childs in the kitchen, She was a member of The Grand Terrace Toastmasters, and taught Sunday School classes for many years. Clema Jo was the beloved mother of and survived by son Timothy Lee, grandsons, Ryan, Jeremy, and Kyle; daughter Kristen Suzanne (Barry), granddaughter Elizabeth Atkinson Hofeld, and son Arthur III. She was predeceased by her mother in 1968 and father in 1994, her brother Douglas, and sister Mildred Spitler. She is survived by her sister Eunice Sandgren, brother Ray Staley (Sharon), brother-in-law Ronald (Miriam), sisters-in-law JoAnne Littlefield and Lee Atkinson, one great grandchild and a multitude of nieces and nephews. Clema Jo lived her life in service to the Lord, was known as a prayer warrior to her Christian friends and family, loved animals, had an affinity for languages, reading, listening to music, and sang beautifully. Free from Alzheimers Syndrome, pain, sorrow and tears; she is with the Lord Jesus, her husband Arthur, and family and friends who have gone before her. Visitation will be at Montecito Memorial Park in Valley View Chapel, 3520 East Washington St., Colton on Wednesday, January 4th from 4 to 8 PM, with services at the same location on Thursday, January 5th at 1:00 PM, after which she will be buried with her husband, Arthur at 3 PM.

Arrangements under the direction of Montecito Memorial Park & Mortuary, Colton, California.