Clinton “Mack” McKinley Lemons, 94, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2023. He was born April 10, 1928, in Summerlee, to the late James Esker and Rachel (Powell) Lemons and grew up in Morgantown. He served honorably in the United States Army as a radio repairman and returned to Morgantown to fall in love with Janet Rhodes. They married and spent years crossing the U.S. between West Virginia, California and Florida, all the while having children and eventually settling permanently in Titusville, Fla. in 1963. As an instrumentation mechanic, Clint worked with the space program, notably on the Mercury and Apollo missions, and Florida Power and Light, from which he retired in 1989.
Clint enjoyed working with his hands and amazed us all with his skills and brilliance in all things mechanical as well as carpentry. Everything he put his hand to, he did well. He had a love for eagles, big band and Dixieland music, and was a great dancer. His interests included coins, vintage cars, history, travel and photography.
Clint will be especially remembered by his family and friends for all his unfailing, practical displays of love and affection. His serious, responsible and no-nonsense side was balanced by a twinkle in his eye and a boisterous laugh that made us smile. A man of few words, those words carried great weight and are treasured dearly along with many, many special memories.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Stephanie, son, Geoffrey and his brothers, J.E. and Donald. He will be greatly missed by Janet, his wife of almost 69 years; his sister, Janet Gay Koontz; his sons, Michael (Deborah), Brian (Terri) and Doug (Krista); and his daughter, Deirdre (Bosse Hammar). He had eight grandchildren: David (Joyce), Chris (Charity), Jason (Anna), Kelsey, Erin, Garrett, Douglas and Erik. He had 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html) or Parkinson’s Foundation (https://www.parkinson.org/ (click on Donate, top upper right, then Tribute Gift)).
Visitation will be held at McCulla Funeral Home, from noon until the 1 p.m. funeral service on Saturday, March 18, with the Rev. Michael Lemons officiating. Following the service, interment will take place at East Oak Grove Cemetery with full military honors conferred by Westover VFW #9916 and WVANG Military Honors, Camp Dawson.
Condolences:
www.mcculla.com
