John E. Clemons

John was born on October 17, 1945, the son of Lester and Dorothy Clemons. He grew up in the Wilbur area and graduated from Wilbur High School in 1963. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard where he was stationed at Wake Island. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1970.

Following his service to his country, John worked for the VISTA program in Michigan for two years before beginning college at Whitworth and began his 30 year career at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. He retired from Labor & Industries in 1999 and began his own vocational consulting business, Clemons Consulting. At the time of his death, he and his wife were a realty team for Windermere Realty.

John loved the outdoors. He lived for hunting, fishing and camping. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family and fishing for walleye at the river property he and his wife Judy owned near Northport. He especially enjoyed elk hunting and looked forward to going to elk camp each year with his cousin Duane and Duane's boys Eric and Adam. He and Judy made many trips to the Ucluelet over the years to fish for salmon and halibut on their boat, the Wooden Nickel. Anyone who stepped foot on his boat knew that he demanded to be called "master and commander"!

In addition to real estate and enjoying the outdoors, John was on the Board of Directors for the Trentwood Irrigation District. He was also a longtime member of the Spokane Bird Dog Club and was one of the original founders of the club.

John loved and cherished his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Judy, two stepsons Doug Morical and his wife Jen and Nick Morical Jr., two daughters from his first marriage Heather and Danielle, three grandchildren (and one on the way), Eleanor, Sadie and Keenan, three brothers and one sister. He is preceded in death by his stepson Jeff Morical, his brother Ronnie, his late wife Pauline and his parents.

A memorial service will held for John on Saturday, February 13 at 2:30 pm at the Thornhill Valley Chapel, 1400 S. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley, WA. Donations to the Spokane Bird Dog Association, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation or the American Cancer Society may be made in lieu of flowers.