Elisabeth Claire Clemons

Elisabeth Claire Caldwell Clemons, age 71, passed peacefully on the April 15, 2015, in Centreville, MD. Elisabeth, known by all her friends as Betsy, was born on October 26, 1943, in Dallas, TX, to Troy Glenn Caldwell and Clara Mae Smith Caldwell. She was raised in Bartlesville, OK, where she met her late husband at College High School, Craig Ridenour Clemons. With her husband and sons, Betsy Clemons traveled the world as the co-leader of a military family – residing in Salina, KS, Bourne, MA, Sacramento, CA, Lakenheath AFB, Suffolk, England, Fairbanks, AK, Alexandria, VA, Cocoa Beach, FL, Philadelphia, PA, Portsmouth, NH, Tokyo, Japan, Albuquerque, NM, Dallas, TX, Bartlesville, OK, and finally in Chestertown, MD, where she spent fabulous times with her two sons, daughter-in-law, her much-loved cats, and wild birds, foxes, possums, deer, and much more in her backyard wilderness. Betsy was a storm of talent and passion and served as a nurse while her husband served in the US Air Force. She painted a gallery’s worth of still life and landscape paintings and studied and became a veterinary technician after the passing of her husband in 1980. She nursed many cats, dogs, parakeets, and other birds, and a variety of other critters back to health. She also studied finance and capital markets and became a broker and financial analyst at the former 66 Credit Union, now known as Truity Credit Union in Bartlesville, OK. As she managed health challenges over the years, she became well-known by video game enthusiasts in Bartlesville and all around the United States as one of the best virtual friends in their network. Her avatar of choice was always some form of "healer." She was also an incredible and totally engaged mom, sister, and aunt. She showed all those around her how to put a bright face on troubled circumstances. She was inspiring, opinionated, tough, sensitive, deeply caring, and committed to her family and friends. Like a lighthouse, Betsy was a guiding light that could lead a person through many stormy and dark times to a safe harbor. Her warmth and smile drew many people to her outstretched arms. She is survived by her two sons, Steven Craig Clemons and his husband Andrew Oros, and William Troy Clemons and his wife Carmen Clemons; her sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Caldwell Klein and The Rev. Everett H. Klein; two nieces, Catherine Anne Klein Dow and Jennifer Lee Caldwell; and grandnieces, Rebecca Nichole Dow and Megan Elizabeth Dow. She will be continually missed.

Elisabeth Claire Clemons

October 26, 1943 - April 16, 2015