Clarence Louis Lemelle, Jr., 80, of Morgantown (formerly of Long Island, N.Y.), passed away Feb. 21, 2023, at Mon Health Medical Center. He was born Nov. 11, 1942, in New York to the late Clarence Sr. and Bettymae Johnson Lemelle.
Clarence attended St. Catherine of Sienna School and was a member of the Queensmen Drum and Bugle Corps. He graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and after graduating, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1961.
Clarence retired from the United States Postal Service AMF/JFK where he received numerous awards. He was a volunteer fireman with the North Amityville Fire Company on Long Island, N.Y. The positions he held were captain of rescue, captain of fire police and president of the North Amityville Volunteer Fireman’s Exempt and Benevolent Association. He was proud to be a volunteer fireman after retiring to Morgantown. He joined the Mon Valley Railroad Historical Society and became a past president. Among his many hobbies, he enjoyed golf, creating artwork, bowling in the senior league and model railroads. He attended Jones United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Karen Cranford Lemelle; sisters, Earlene Campbell and Mabel Montford; special cousin, Cisley Turpin; brother and sister-in-law, Hubert and Deborah Ward; brother-in-law, Marcus Cranford; sister-in-law, Renee Mack; and special nephew, Michael Link.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Michael J. Lemelle and Paul E. Lemelle (aka Latif Halim). Clarence also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, along with many family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to your local Volunteer Fire Department or to the charity of choice in memory of Clarence.
Family and friends will be received at Dering-Henson Funeral Home, 156 Foundry St. Morgantown, WV 26505, from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Funeral services will be in the funeral home at noon with Pastor Stephen R. Prince officiating. Interment will follow in East Oak Grove Cemetery, Morgantown.
Caring services are provided by Dering-Henson Funeral Home.
Condolences:
www.dering-henson.com
