Ramona Karnes Clements

Ramona Dell Karnes Clements died peacefully on July 4, 2021. She was born on August 29, 1929 in Breckenridge, Texas and was the fraternal twin of Ralph Karnes and the eleventh of twelve children of Buena Ora Bryant Karnes and Jesse O’Brien Karnes. Ramona attended grade school in Stephenville before her family moved to Fort Worth ("the best city in the world")in 1940. She attended Pascal High School, and worked at Montgomery Ward in the warehouse, earning her way to floor manager —on skates! She married Gordon Gene Clements in 1948, and together raised their three children while providing support to other family members in need.

The Clements couple were well respected throughout the state for their successful business, Custom Built Cabinets. Ramona applied her skills to cabinetry design, sales, business management and customer relationships for over forty years. In her late 40s, she became an active member of the Democratic Party, League of Women Voters, and NOW—supporting the Equal Rights Amendment in Texas. She traveled across the USA and to Europe. She retired at the age of 72, then volunteered with Kiwanis and was a member of The Red Hat Society. She made numerous friends at Villas By the Lake(where she resided and delivered Meals on Wheels and entertained with her friend, Harold), Fireside Lodge (she was an activity director), Palm House (where she lived and organized activities for the 3rd floor), and Santa Fe Rehab/Senior Living (where she received loving care from the staff). Few could match her quick wit, skills at Dominoes and Hand and Foot, or her precision in applied mathematics and family genealogy. She was deeply devoted to her family, proud of her Texas family heritage (1830s to the present) and the Dallas Cowboys.

Ramona was the last surviving child of Jesse and Buena. Her eleven siblings--Clyde, Garner, DeAlva, Jesse Doyle, Joyce, Pauline, Billy, Leonard, Lona, Ralph (her twin who passed away in December of 2020, and LaUna. Gordon G. Clements, her spouse of 44 years, preceded her in death in 1992. She is survived by her loving children: Gordon Ralph and (wife) Freida Clements; Carmen Clements and (partner) Michael Casteneda; Randy Clements and (wife) Tammy Flanagan. She was Moni to her seven grandchildren and their spouses, her 10 great-grandchildren, numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and double cousins.