Obituary of Jack W. Clevinger

Jack was born in Portland, Oregon to Joseph and Olive Tipton Clevinger. He had two brothers, Richard (Dick) and Don. Jack attended Ainsworth Grade School, Benson High School and then joined the Navy, serving as a Coxswain on the U.S.S. Craven, a destroyer, in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war he worked as a mechanic at Braley and Graham Buick. He met the love of his live, Aileen J. Hedman, in 1951and they married on May 23, 1952. The couple moved to Niagara Falls, NY to stay with Jack’s mother. While there, he worked for Bell Laboratories in aeronautical manufacturing. They returned to Portland with their first chid, Tom, after a year. Jack opened a service station at 39th and S.E. Belmont. (It was later purchased by ARCO and is still open in that location.) Three daughters followed, Jill, Judy and Suzi. Jack later went to work for ARCO as a regional manager, followed by positions in sales with two industrial supply companies, Ken R. Humke and A.W. Davis in Portland. They bought a home in Eastmoreland and were members of the Multnomah Athletic Club, active in badminton and tennis. Jack was also a member of the MAC Polar Bears who took a dip in the Polar Bear pool at the Oregon Zoo, or local rivers, each year on New Year’s Day. Jack and Aileen bought land in 1968 on the Oregon Coast at Netarts Bay and built the Bay Shore RV Park and Marina. Jack worked full time in Portland and spent his vacations and every weekend, except Christmas, working at their coastal business for 25 years. There was a ten year period where he did not have a vacation. He and Aileen finally hired managers to help them run the bustling business at the Coast. Their boat rental business was busy all summer and Jack was a master at crabbing, clamming and fishing, providing tips to their loyal customers and many friends. After Jack and Aileen sold their business in 1994, they travelled in the winters to Lake Havasu, Arizona and later built a house there. He enjoyed trips to Nevada stopping off to gamble on the way south each year. They enjoyed walking and playing cards with friends and family. Jack loved to dance with Aileen and was always a vibrant presence at every party. They later bought a house in the Arranmore neighborhood near Raleigh Hills in Portland. He and Aileen were members of St. Luke Lutheran Church and for years were active on the Welcoming Committee and with the Grauer Back To School Project to supply low-income children with clothing and shoes at back-to-school time. After Aileen passed away in 2016, Jack bought a condominium in Palm Desert, California. He was happiest when he was in the desert enjoying the sun, watching the golfers go by, and entertaining family and friends. Jack is survived by his brother Don Clevinger, his four children, Tom Clevinger (Becky), Jill Whittaker, Judy Guyer (Skip), Suzi Merz (Kevin) and by his grandchildren Ryan Clevinger, Katie Marsolan (Tim), Greg Sargent, Chloe Hollatz (Tom), Mike Merz, Chris Merz, Dezaray Mullins (Spencer), Madeline Whittaker, William Wilkerson, Jack Merz and J.T. Whittaker, as well as by his great-grandchildren Parker, Paisley and Gibson Hollatz and Daniel and Cynthia Marsolan. Remembrances may be made to the Grauer Back To School Project at St. Luke Lutheran Church at 4595 SW California St., Portland, OR 97219. Service to be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 18, 2020, at St Luke Lutheran Church 4595 SW California St. Portland, OR 97219.