John P. Clements, 78, 18-year resident of Oak Harbor, died Jan. 17, 2005 at Whidbey General Hospital, following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Clements was born April 3, 1926, in Falmouth, Maine, to Frank Clements and Edith (Gumb) Clements. He was raised on Mackworth Island, Maine, which was owned by the governor of the state of Maine. John’s father was the caretaker for the island. He was employed by the US Navy until age 24. He joined the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was married to Verna Jean Spangler Nov. 27, 1954, in Ellisforde, Okanogan County.

John and Jean lived in Moses Lake, where he was stationed at Larson Air Force Base, and then Spokane, where he was stationed at Fort George Wright. They then moved to Tonasket for 12 years, during which time he was a dealer for the Wenatchee World North Central Edition, on what was at that time the largest delivery route in the United States. The entire route was more than 300 miles long.

Following this, they moved to Sweet Home, Ore., where John was employed as district manager for the Albany Democrat, and then to Bellevue, where he was employed by the Bellevue American (currently the Eastside Journal-American) in the same capacity. They then moved to Spokane, where John was circulation manager for the Valley Herald until his retirement in 1987. In that same year, the Clements moved to Oak Harbor. John was employed part-time by the Whidbey News-Times.

John coached for North Whidbey Little League for a number of years, and remained active in the organization from 1987 to the present. Working with Little League was John’s greatest passion. He was also a member of the American Legion in Tonasket, and was district commander of that region during the 1970’s. He was also a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Tonasket and Concordia Lutheran Church in Oak Harbor. In addition to Little League baseball, his hobbies included fishing, hunting, collecting baseball cards and coins.

John is survived by his wife Jean, at home; a daughter by a previous marriage, Sharon Boyer of Spokane; daughter Diane Smothers and son Frank Clements, both of Oak Harbor; three grandchildren, Skip Boyer of Spokane, and Jennifer and Michael Smothers, both of Oak Harbor; two great-grandchildren, Andrew Smothers and Chloe McNichels; one sister, Gladys Howland of Saco, Maine; also, numerous other relatives.

A memorial service will be Saturday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church, Pastor Juan Palm officiating. Private inurnment will take place at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the North Whidbey Little League, 417 S.E Bayshore Dr., Oak Harbor, or to the Little Lambs Pre-School, c/o Concordia Lutheran Church, 590 N. Oak Harbor St., Oak Harbor, WA 98277.