Gertrude H Clemons' Obituary
Gertrude Herta ClemonsTrudy, as she was called by family and friends, began her waltz with the Lord March 28, 2013. She began her life's journey born to parents William and Olga Below, June 26, 1920 in Hubbard Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Mary Jane and infant twin sisters. Trudy graduated Hubbard High School where she was an ace on their basketball team and attended college in Cedar Falls Iowa, receiving a teaching certificate. She began her teaching career in a one room school house consisting of grades K through 12 and a potbellied stove. Her contribution to the war effort between 1944 and 1945 was to move to Florida where she and a friend took jobs in banks that were vacated by men leaving to serve their country during WWII. She returned after the war and met James (Jim) Clemons while teaching school in New Providence, Iowa. They were married June 10, 1948. They lived in New Providence where they welcomed two sons to their lives. They moved from Iowa and settled in the Catoosa Oklahoma area in 1964. Trudy had a passion for crocheting, her art work, sharing time with family and friends and her flowers. She spent time as substitute teacher at Catoosa, worked for the Wagoner County Election Board for over 40 years, and was a member of the Catoosa Sertoma Club. She is survived by her husband of 65 years Jim of the home, loving sons Don of Catoosa, Jon and wife Anita of Claremore and grandson Judson and his wife Rachael of Broken Arrow, sister Ruth Vasquez of Walnut Creek, CA, brother Carl Below of Antelope, CA. She is also survived by loving nieces and nephews in California, North Carolina, and Canada.Viewing will be at Floral Haven Saturday March 30th from 10:00am to 8:00pm. Services will be held at Floral Haven April 1st at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to Clarehouse Hospice and Catoosa Masonic Lodge #185.
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