Thomas Lewis Clements

Thomas L. Clements, 90, of Fort Collins, passed away Friday, July 10, 2020. Born in Eaton, Colorado on November 29, 1929, he was the son of Lewis and Edythe Burnham Clements. Thomas graduated from Fort Morgan High School in 1948 and from Colorado State University in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He joined the Reserved Officers Training Corp while in college and received his commission to the United States Air Force. He proudly served as a pilot for the USAF during the Korean War and flew transatlantic missions. During college he met the love of his life, Erma Helm. They were married on July 15, 1953.

Thomas worked as a bench chemist, chief chemist, plant operations superintendent, and general plant manager for Great Western Sugar Company for 29 years. He worked in a variety of locations including Loveland, CO; Johnstown, CO; Lovell, WY; Brighton, CO; Fort Morgan, CO; Fremont, Ohio; and Sterling, Colorado. He served on the District School Board for Brighton. Thomas and Erma later owned two Baskin & Robin ice cream stores in Fort Collins. Thomas spent his final years as a chemist for Coors BioTechnology in Johnstown, Colorado and was recognized for his efforts to bring the “LECO Nitrogen Determinator” to operating status. He retired in 1995.

Thomas enjoyed many hobbies including gemology; camping including making the family camping tepee from a parachute; hunting; fly fishing; back-packing and gunsmithing. He hand crafted gun stocks from a block of wood and modified the action for many rifles. Shooting was a favorite past time with children and grandchildren. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Northern Colorado Rod & Gun Club. Thomas was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Collins and enjoyed cooking for the Double Nickel club.

Surviving Thomas is his wife of nearly 67 years Erma; sister Peggy Starr of Rock Hill, SC, children Thomas Jr. (Debbie) of Idaho Falls, ID and Cyndie Saffell of Winter Park, CO; grandchildren Jamie Betzing (Reid) of Lakewood, CO, Kelsi (Rik) Martinez of Idaho Falls, ID, Brandon Clements of Bozeman, MT, Sean Saffell of Breckenridge, CO, and Erik Saffell of Denver, CO; and great grandchildren Jayde Wagoner, Braylon Martinez, Ryland Betzing, Blakeleigh Martinez, and Easton Betzing.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Edythe Clements, and brother Merle Clements and sister Connie Starr.

Due to the Covid pandemic, a private funeral service for the immediate family will be held Monday, July 20, 2020.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Thomas’s name to benefit the Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado, P.O. Box Q, Fort Collins, CO 80522; or the First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St., Fort Collins, CO 80524.