Final Salute

ROCHESTER, NH – Arlan T. Clements, 91, son of Ferris and Geneva Clements passed away peacefully at The Studley Home on June 14 after a brief illness.
Arlan was a man of many names. He and his brother affectionately called each other Amos; to his cousins he was Lannie; Dad or Papa to his daughters; Grumpy to his grandchildren and great grandchildren; and Unkie to his nieces and nephews. He was known as Clem to many; and John somehow stuck long after a supervisor couldn’t remember his name.
Growing up in and around Exeter, he could often be found at his grandfather’s home in Kingston; spending time with his aunts; or out at the dairy farm in Brentwood. Given the passing of his mother when he was only six years old, Arlan consistently credited his aunts for shaping the man he became.
Arlan was extremely proud of his time as a US Navy Seabee, joining at just 17. Following his service in the Korean War, he remained in the Naval Reserves for several years. He was often seen wearing his ball cap emblazoned with the Seabee logo,and enjoyed striking up conversations with fellow Veterans whenever he could.
There are many homes scattered around the Kingston area that Arlan either built, renovated, or otherwise worked in, including many of his own homes. Both as a skilled carpenter and oil burner service technician, he left behind a meticulous reputation and formed many lasting connections. He was often called in as the “ole guy” when some newer technicians were stumped by a pesky burner problem.
Outside of his diligent work ethic, Arlan loved music, dancing and being near the water. He spent many a Saturday night at The Rockingham Ball Room and later found immense joy in line and round dancing. He even made sure the basement floor of his last house was smooth as a dance floor for “tripping the light fantastic” at home. Some of his fondest memories included time at camp, where he spent countless hours teaching many kids to swim and water-ski. Sunset cruises around the lake were his specialty.
He was particularly proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was always interested in what everyone was up to. Whether it was what they were doing in school, videos of ball games, silly pictures from the first days of school, or if they caught a particularly good sunset. He was proud of all his granddaughters for their higher education accomplishments and chosen career paths. He especially loved that his only grandson, Charlie, inherited his love of tinkering, and is preserving Grumpy’s “1967-or-so” Ford pick-up.
Arlan is survived by his partner of 20 years, Jeannine Allaire; his daughters, Geneva (Kevin) West of Wales ME; Lisa (Scott) Donnelly of Portsmouth; step-daughter, Debra (Robert) Davis of Tamworth; daughter-in-law, Lynn Hudson of Amarillo TX; his half-sister, Sandra (Harry) Thurston of Winter Haven FL; six grandchildren: Charles West, Michelle Williams, Sadie Donnelly, Joline Tsoronis, Heather Hudson, and Jill Jackson; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his parents; his wife of 34 years, Amelia Clements; his brother and beloved sister-in-law, Renwick and Hilda Clements; step-sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie and Herbert Page; step-son, William Hudson III; and the mother of his children, Jacqueline Salvatore.
The family would like to thank The Studley Home staff and Cornerstone VNA for their loving care. Many thanks also to the Frisbie ICU staff. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cornerstone VNA, 178 Farmington Road, Rochester, NH 03867, or the charity of your choice.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date.
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