“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow! What a ride!
Gaylon Harry Clemens, age 51, passed away after a tragic fall claimed his life on September 12, 2015 in Williston, North Dakota. He died doing what he loved, helping his kids with projects.
Gaylon was born in Cooperstown, North Dakota to Mahlon and Leona Clemens on June 3, 1964. He lived many different places in North Dakota and Montana throughout his childhood eventually settling in Wolf Point and calling it home. He inherited his ready-made family when he married Keeta DeLap on May 6, 1989 in Wolf Point. To Gaylon, blood did not make you family and he opened his heart to Andy and Meriah as his own children. He was extremely proud of his children’s accomplishments and told them frequently. He was always ready to help them, push them, or pick them back up, whichever they needed.
Gaylon enjoyed many things, and one of his favorites was helping family and friends as well as being “Uncle Gaylon” to many. He was always a busy man, never sitting still for more than a few minutes before finding something to tinker on. He and Keeta participated in several fur trade rendezvous reenactments, taking a trip back in time of a simpler life. He took pride in wearing the buckskin suit that Keeta handmade him, as well as putting up his large canvas tent. He loved these opportunities to unplug from the fast-paced world and reconnect with nature.
Anyone that knew Gaylon knew of his love of guns and hunting. He had a whole room dedicated to guns and reloading ammo and a huge collection of many guns that he enjoyed sharing his wisdom of. He jumped at the opportunity to teach children how to shoot and hunt and always taught them the importance of gun safety.
He was a very hard worker, working as a lawn maintenance professional doing park contracts for the City of Wolf Point and later owning his own lawn maintenance company. He was well known in town as the lawn guy. He worked for the City of Wolf Point from 2002 to 2012, all while still managing his lawn company. He was never standing still! During those brief moments of down-time, he was finding other projects around the house or helping friends and family.
He and Keeta moved to Williston, ND in November of 2014 so that they could work alongside their sons to run a Snap-On business. Although living and working in Williston, they still considered Wolf Point their home.
He is survived by his wife Keeta Clemens, his dog Allie, son Andy DeLap of Williston, N.D., his “other son” Brandon Swoboda of Williston, ND, daughter Meriah (Jeremey) Harms of Miles City, his grandchildren Austin, Aila, Tyler, Jordin, Kahlon, Kaylee, Lexi, and Colton. He is survived by his brother Mahlon, Jr. (Jere) Clemens and his sister Vicky (Jaronn) Boysun as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by both parents Mahlon and Leona, his sister Monica, and special dog Tally.
“Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, we are still. Call me by my old familiar name. Put no difference in your tones. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, and pray for me. Let my name be ever a household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negotiable accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well.”
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 18, 2015 from 1-6:00 p.m. at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. A prayer service will follow at 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at the family farm south of Scobey. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.