Bobby Ray Clements

Bobby Ray Clements Sr., age 85, passed away at home attended by his loving wife, Barbie. Bobby was born on October 6, 1930, to William Edward Clements and Minnie Mentora Searcy in Camp Ray, Roswell, New Mexico. He was the third child of six children with two brothers and three sisters. Bobby grew up in Roswell, New Mexico. He attended school at L.F.D., Roswell Junior High School, and Roswell Senior High School. He dropped out of High School in the 11th grade and got a job with his uncle building fences out in the boonies. While in school his summer vacations were spent chopping cotton. Winter time he spent weekends and after school picking cotton till dark. He was a hard worker. His dad always told him that "sitting on the bosses’ pocketbook is the same as stealing." He followed that rule all of his life and was a dedicated worker. He was a jack of all trades. He was a Heating and Ventilation Sheet Metal Worker for 50 years. He loved his job and always said he got paid for having fun. Bobby is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Cecil and Don Clements and his sister Chlora Mae Rich. Bobby is survived by the love of his life, Barbie. His sister Mary Lou Cunningham resides in Farmington, New Mexico. Her twin sister died at birth. His first wife, Maggie Holmes lives with her husband, Archie, in Farmington, New Mexico. He is also survived by his children: Bobby Ray Clements Jr. of Aransas Pass, Texas, Connie Dianne Clements of Farmington, New Mexico and Shelley Joanne Clements of Olympia, Washington. He has seven grandchildren and numerous Great Grandchildren. He tried to enlist in the military but was turned down because of a deviated septum. He joined the National Guard in Roswell and served from 1950 to 1958 in Regiment Battery A, 697th Antiaircraft Division. He was a Sergeant over a gun squad until he was honorably discharged. Bobby and his family moved to Alaska in 1965. He spent 30 years in Alaska and retired in 1978. The last ten years in the trade he worked in Alaska in the Bush, flying all over in a small plane with his tools. While in Alaska, Bobby restored approximately 30 homes, which was a passion of his. Bobby and his family moved out of Alaska to Mena, Arkansas in 1978. He lived there until he went back to Alaska in 1980. Alone and separated from his wife, he moved in 1995 to Salida, Colorado. He built a house in the beautiful mountains. The altitude caused him health problems so he had to relocate. His sister, Mae, wanting him back in the Roswell area where Family was residing, set him up with a blind date with one of her quilting buddies (Barbie). She thought if she found him a girlfriend he might come back to Roswell - and it worked. He came to Roswell and dated Barbara (Barbie) Ann Charters, a widow with six children and ten grandchildren. Her children and grandchildren all live in Michigan. She moved from Michigan to Roswell in 1984 with her late husband. They dated for a year and went to Las Vegas, Nevada and got married. They have had a blissfully happy marriage for 12 years making lots of good memories and friends. In Bobby's later years since moving back to Roswell, he bought old houses for back taxes and restored them and resold them. Bobby and Barbie bought a rundown stucco cottage in Lincoln, New Mexico. Bobby spent years restoring it and they spent a lot of weekends there until it got too hard to keep up two houses. In his later years he liked to play 42 at the Senior Circle, play his guitar, playing and singing his country music. Bobby and Barbie joined a square dance group in Roswell. He taught classes and was a caller. He was a people person and had many friends, his wife being his best friend. He had a great sense of humor and was greatly loved by his family and friends. He will be missed by many. Arrangements will be by Anderson Bethany Funeral Home. He will be cremated and have his ashes spread by his mother 's headstone at South Park Cemetery and in his garden area at his house up on the ten acres West of Roswell. Services are pending. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Roswell Humane Society. Obituary was lovingly written by the Clements family.

Bobby Ray Clements

October 6, 1930 - October 3, 2016