Earl Clemans

Earl Raymond Clemans,Jr., 89, of Colony, Kansas, died Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at the Allen County Hospital in Iola. Earl was born June 12, 1919, in Erie, Kansas, to Leona Mathis and Earl Clemans, Sr. He grew up at Odense, Kansas. He graduated from Erie High School in 1937. Earl attended Chanute trade school from 1937 to 1939. He graduated from Pittsburg Teacher's College in 1942. Earl began teaching at Colony High School where he taught sciences, history, shop, driver's education and coached basketball. He taught at the same school for 39 years. He retired in 1981 at the age of 62. His students were and still are a part of his family. On May 17, 1942, Earl married Mary Best Clemans at the home of her parents south of McCune, Kansas. They moved to Colony, Kansas in August of that year where they have resided for 66 years. Earl coached pee-wee and little league ball and played men's softball. He loved to ride motorcycles. He was a mechanic for stock car racing for Kenny Kinzel and later for Glen Henderson. Races were in Kansas and Missouri. He enjoyed going to and working on his parents farm north of Shaw, Kansas cutting wood, camping, and going fishing with his family. His family was joy in his heart and he loved each of them dearly. He enjoyed working with nature. He loved animals especially cats. He was very involved in his church, the Colony Community Church. He served on the church board for many years. He was baptized in the Neosho River at the age of 12. He saw God's beauty in every walk of life. Earl is survived by his wife of the home; three sons, Dwight and his wife, Edie of Wascom, Texas, Marvin and his wife, Wanda of Wichita, Kansas, and Arvin and his wife, Kathryn of Iola, Kansas; one daughter, Bonnie Sjogren and her husband, Charles, of Concordia, Kansas; 17 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren; one brother, Julius and wife, Janice, of Johnson City, Tennessee. His father, Earl, Sr. and mother, Leona, died earlier. VISITATION: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola, Kansas. SERVICE: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 10, 2009, at the Colony Community Church. Pastor Steve Bubna will officiate. BURIAL: Colony Cemetery at Colony, Kansas. MEMORIALS: Suggested to the Colony Community Church Memorials and condolences online may be left at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola, which is in charge of arrangements.