David Eugene Clutts

David Eugene Clutts passed away peacefully at home on August 25, 2026, surrounded by his family after a valiant battle with glioblastoma.

He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 7, 1953, to Carlos and Velma Jacqueline (“Jackie”) Clutts. He had an older sister, Peggy, and a younger sister, Carol. When his father was transferred from U.S. Steel’s Birmingham operations to Louisville, Kentucky, the family relocated, and 15-year-old David found himself living four doors down from a girl named Jackie Anderson. They later married on September 20, 1975, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2025.

David attended Birmingham-Southern College for two years before transferring to the University of Louisville, where he completed his accounting degree. He built a long career in the automotive industry, from finance through sales and management. He began his career with GMAC in 1975. Over the years, he accepted transfers several times and moved his family to better their lives. He settled in the Kansas City area and eventually worked for a few dealerships in various roles. He finally retired in 2020.

David was blessed to have lifelong family and friends who loved him dearly. He maintained every relationship he could and cherished them all.

He spent his adult life quietly giving. He knew how lucky he was and wanted to share that with as many people as he could. He had a particular devotion to veterans’ causes, as his father was a WWII veteran, and David never forgot how close he came to being called into service himself. In the draft lottery, March 6 and March 7 were the first two birthdays drawn. His was second. He would have been among the first called the following year. The draft ended before those orders went out, and that bit of fate shaped the rest of his life. He never forgot how much those who came both before him and after him paid for the country he loved. He always proudly flew his American flag and donated to nearly every veterans’ charity he could.

David was an avid, sometimes boisterous University of Alabama football fan (Roll Tide), University of Louisville basketball fan (Go Cards), and Kansas City Chiefs football fan (How ’bout them Chieeeeefs!). Year-round, you could find him watching any football or basketball game he could get on a screen, including reruns from years past.

He loved the beach. It pulled at his soul. Whether it was short trips to fill his trunk with shrimp in college or visits to his parents and sister Peggy, the beach was his quiet. It was where he was most himself. Now the same sky that pulls the tides holds him too.

For the last 19 years, he was “Grandpa” or “PopPop” to six of the best grandkids a guy could ask for. Near or far, each of them had his whole heart. When he couldn’t be with them, he talked about them all the time. If he could tell them anything today, it would be that nothing made him prouder than to call them his.

He loved animals. He fed the rabbits, birds, and really anything that walked in his yard. He had a lot of pets in his life, more than most hearts can take. He loved each one unconditionally. He often became teary-eyed thinking about the ones he had lost. He is now sitting in heaven recovering from sloppy kisses and fights for his lap and attention. He’ll be busy for a while.

For the last four and a half years, he had Kajsa, his German Shepherd, by his side. She picked him from day one and became his loyal, adoring, protective sidekick, unwavering in her love for him. She misses him more than his people will ever understand. Someday when it is her turn to meet him again, he’ll be waiting with a long procession of friends she never met, making room for her to take her place by his side once again.

David was preceded in death by his father, Carlos B. Clutts; his mother, Velma Jacqueline Clutts; his sister, Peggy J. Clutts; his grandparents; and many other beloved family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie; his daughter, Michele (Cory); his sons, Mark (Rebekah) and Michael (Teri); his sister, Carol Miller (Clay); his sister-in-law, Jody Nichols (Cliff); his grandchildren, Connor, Henry, Jackson, Aubrey, Olivia, and Lillian; his nieces, Adrienne Matson (Justin) and Tracy Nichols; his nephew, Trevor Durham (Melissa); several grandnieces and grandnephews; and countless friends who know who they are and how much he loved them. And if by chance they don’t know, just ask his family. They all know and will tell you freely. Thank you to all of you.

Visitation will be held Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven, 4400 Bardstown Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40218.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 4, 2026, at noon at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven, with burial to follow at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to a veterans’ charity of your choosing or another charitable organization if you feel moved to do so.