Clarence Clapp

Clarence R. Clapp was born on August 17, 1933 and died on August 17, 2012. It was his 79th birthday when he passed. He was born in Arthur, Nebraska, and raised in Kinnear, Wyoming. He served in the US Army for 2 years during peacetime and worked in the motor pool servicing heavy equipment. Less than a week after getting out of the Army, on September 6, 1955 he married his beloved, Deryce Hudson, at the Nazarene Church in Kinnear, Wyoming. They had three children, Melody, Bryan, and Brent. Clarence graduated from the University of Wyoming with a BA in Agriculture. He had various occupations in his life. He started as a Weed and Pest man in Thermopolis, Wyoming, and then became an assistant county agent in Kemmerer, Wyoming. In 1966, they moved to Casper where Clarence was the assistant county agent for many years. While at that job, he was the head of the 4-H program where his leadership was appreciated for many years. In 1976 he resigned his position as an extension agent, and joined his son's lawn mowing business, and formed "Clapp's B & B Lawn Service". With Clarence's experience, the business expanded to landscaping and sprinkler systems. After Bryan and Brent went on to other occupations, Clarence changed the name to "Clapp's lawn and Coal". During Clarence's ownership of the business, he employed many young people who he taught the value of working hard and accomplishing sometimes difficult tasks. In 1978, Clarence and Deryce leased and moved onto the Ednis Kimball Wilkins Ranch, 4 miles East of Casper. He used his agriculture experience to exercise and renew the water rights for that large ranch, along with continuing his business. In the spring of 1979, his oldest daughter Melody was killed in an automobile accident returning to college for her final term. This significantly affected Clarence and Deryce's life. Before this time, they had always be faithful Christians and active in their local church, but with Melody's passing, they became very aware of how sudden eternity could be for the people around them. The grace that God had given them to deal with Melody's death became a story they shared countless times that lead literally dozens of people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Melody's death doubled the grace and love that Clarence and Deryce poured onto people around them. They had a unique ability to innately understand the needs of people around them. Through Clarence's warm smile and handshake, and Deryce's sweet spirit and good cooking, they welcomed many people into their own family, and many into God's family. They were the very essence of loving people into the Kingdom of God. In the early 90's, Clarence and Deryce left the ranch life, and moved to their home at 8th and Jackson in Casper. Clarence became a maintenance man for the hospital, and again made friends wherever he went. After being there for more than 5 years, he finally retired. Even after he retired, he continued doing sprinkler repair work, working for Mike Bassett, who owns a sprinkler business and was one of the kids that had worked for Clarence when he was a teenager. Clarence was always grateful to be able to work as long as he was physically able. Clarence was an avid hunter. He taught his own sons and countless others how to hunt. Although Clarence loved to shoot a big buck or bull, he was always grounded in the idea that God provided animals as a source of meat for mankind. Based on that, he was always thankful to God for what God provide when he hunted. Clarence is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Deryce, and his three brothers, Ron, Dwight, and Vaughn. Also, his sons Bryan and Brent, and his grandchildren, Bethany, Brittany, Mekala, Kelsie, and Brady, and 4 great grand children, Clarayce, Benjamin, Colman, and Danni. He is preceded in death by his daughter Melody, and his great grandson, Joseph. The funeral service will be Wednesday, August 22nd, at 1:00pm at the Nazarene Church at 2020 So. Jefferson, in Casper, Wyoming. The service can be viewed live or afterword online at FuneralRecoding.com, Memorial ID # 3782.

Service

Wednesday, August 22, 2012 1:00pm

First Church of the Nazarene

2020 So. Jefferson

Casper, Wyoming 82601