Descriptions of Raphael Clement

Questionnaire from a family reunion in 1979—Hobble Creek Canyon, Utah

Handout designed by Charles Ray Clement

1. WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?  TRY AND DESCRIBE HIM IN WORDS.

The first thing I think about when I think of Raphael is his beautiful stature and his calm dignity. He was always thinking. Always had control of the situations. He was sort of an introvert, but had a sly sense of humor. He was a one woman man. His wife and family came first. Even though he was quiet and firm, he was very proud of his family. (Pearl Clement, Raphael's wife)

Handsome. Wavy hair. Blue eyes. A large man but well built. A strong man and a good worker.  (DeVon Clement, son)

I thought Dad was a very handsome man, and I liked to watch his large strong hands at work. It seemed to me that he could build and repair anything, and knew exactly what needed to be done. He had a strong body, was big boned. I'd always heard that Dad was in very good physical condition, seldom got sick. He stood at six feet one inch tall, and had dark wavy hair, then it started to turn silvery in his late forties. In his 50's, he got a little heavier since his work load had changed from heavy farming to a city job only, but it made him look distinguished.

Dad's beautiful clear light blue eyes showed kindness or could pierce through you, depending on what was happening. They always attracted attention though, sparkling from underneath his arched eyebrows. They were an attractive contrast with his dark wavy hair. He had a pleasant soft smile. His slender straight nose showed a handsome profile. He was neat in appearance, kept himself clean and tidy, and he kept his dress-up shoes polished. His walk was firm and steady, with a confident bearing, carrying himself with noticeably good posture. When he dressed up for church or a dance he was princely looking! (Barbara Clement Wright, dau.)

He was a tall, well built man with beautiful wavy slate-gray hair. He had piercing but kind blue eyes. He always walked straight and with a deliberate gait as if he always knew exactly where he was going and was sure to get where he was going. (Joy Clement, dau.i-l)

He was tall about 6 feet plus, medium built. By comments of people around him, he was a good looking man, wavy hair, light complectioned, fairly large hands. Slim in his early years, fairly heavy in his later years. Full head of hair. (Bud Clement, son)

He seemed taller than he actually was. He was very dignified at the time I knew him in his early fifties. He gave the impression of great self-control and intellectual depth. (Bart Czirr, son i-l)

To me he had a reserved but dominant appearance. He was gentle but firm. He stood straight and tall with a head of wavy hair, well groomed. He was a good looking man. (Glen J. Behling, son i-l)

I remember Grandpa as being very tall and he had grey hair. (Larry Behling, grandson)

Seemed taller than I've heard he was. Distinguished, silvery wavy hair, large build, stern face. (Charles Clement, son)

Wavy hair. Stood very straight, so straight that people commented on it. One meeting someone on the stand drew a sketch of him because he stood so straight. Piercing blue eyes, very fair skin, big hands.  He always reminded me of President McKay in looks. His hair was dark and grey mixed. (Shanna Clement Czirr, dau.)

Grey hair, large build, big hands. (Mary Clement, dau. i-l)

2. WHAT STYLE OF LEADERSHIP DID HE EXHIBIT?

A strong leader. Expected a lot but nothing that he would not do himself. He was a very busy man and had little time for monkey business. (DeVon)

He was kind but firm. He was not one to have favorites. He treated each and every one the same. (Joy)

He was the type of person who could command attention and hold it. He was positive in his ideas and not afraid to put them forward. He knew the gospel and became an excellent teacher. Not just from my point of view but from the comments put to me by numerous people I associate with and work with. He was a person people could talk to and feel relaxed. He was gentle in his ways but positive. When a question was put to him he would think for a minute before answering, as if weighing the question so the answer would be helpful to the person asking. (Bud)

He commanded great respect from his family and acquaintances. People very much wanted to have his respect also. (Bart)

I knew him best through church associations. He was a Stake Missionary and very effective in his contacts with other people. He had a special affinity for the Indian people at White Swan Reservation. He was well liked and respected by all the Indians he met and worked with. Later as Stake Patriarch, he showed a love and concern for other people. He was instrumental in helping many people to a better understanding of themselves and their life's purposes. As a parent he seemed to be fairly authoritative but tried to be just and fair. (Glen)

Quiet, unpredictable, distinguished, persuasive. (Charles)

Excellent. He was fair with us in the family. He would say in answer to a request that was against the church standards, "Here's how your mother and I feel about it and here's how the Lord feels about it, (referring to a scripture). Now you make up your own mind." He always warned us specifically and clearly about things he did not want us to do. When we got disciplined we knew we deserved it. Used gentleness, directness and patience the majority of the time. (Shanna)

Very firm, honest, friendly, humble. (Mary)

Dad was a strong, motivated leader in every facet of his life. Faithful and brave. He was always out in front, up and going at the break of day, before anyone else in the  family. I remember he was an "on-timer" person - on time for meetings, work and other activities. I remember him saying, "Never be later than five minutes early." He was dependable, true and honest.                                                        (Barbara) 

He knew what he wanted to say and very definitely said it. He didn't leave you guessing about anything he said. (Pearl, wife)

3. WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DID YOU HAVE WITH HIM?

A good relationship over the total years. Did not know him too well in the early years since his work required that he be gone a lot. We had a very good relationship after my return from the service. We worked together, fished together and enjoyed talking and visiting. (DeVon)

He was never a father-in-law to me. He treated me the same as he treated his own daughters. We had quiet visits together and he would give me advice if I asked him for it, but he never interfered with what I wanted to do. (Joy)

It was an easy and fun relationship if the work was kept up and assignments were accomplished. In general he wanted things done right and when they were supposed to be done. He would warn several times and if not listened to, us kids could expect strong disciplinary action. He understood our need for fun and would let us use his means to accomplish this but he expected us to take good care of them. This means animals, equipment, tools, etc. (Bud)

My first interaction was very negative because I was not a Mormon, wanting to date his daughter. We later became very good friends and had respect for each other. (Bart)

As mentioned, I was in the Stake Presidency while he was a Stake Missionary and Stake Patriarch. In addition to being his son-in-law, we had a very interesting relationship. To me he was paternal and somewhat condescending but he also was respectful of position and willing to accept direction. He was free with his counsel and wisdom and I thoroughly enjoyed being with him and listening to his stories and his philosophy of life and religion. He counseled with me as a son and listened to my direction as a church leader. (Glen)

One morning Grandpa stopped by our house in Richland and asked if I would like to go with him to check his beehives. He was driving his old pickup truck. I stayed in the cab while he put on the nets and took care of the hives. (Larry Behling)

I don't remember much interaction with him, yet I hear there was considerable. I was shy and didn't attempt to forge any relationship. I remember being with him places and on trips. (Charles)

During my teen years, mine and Dad's interactions were mutually respectful and we had some fun interactions together. For example: While on day shift at work, in the summertime when school was out, Dad would often call home and ask me to pack him a lunch, and that he would drop by the house and pick it up. He would come in his white, company pick-up truck. I enjoyed these opportunities to serve and be with him. I owned a small camera, and during one of these noon-time stops, I said, "Hey Dad, would you sit down on the front steps, I'd sure like a picture of us together." His response was neat - it tickled him all over, and his laugh shows it in the picture. We were having fun together and to me that was the important thing. I still have this snapshot to remind me of that happy interaction with my dad. (Barbara) 

He took me with him to visit his Indian friends in Yakima, Washington. I remember more attention from him after I was married and living in the same town. He would visit me often during his lunch hour. He was solicitous of our well-being. (Shanna)

Very short time. I only knew him for about one year. He seemed to like me right off. We got along very well. (Mary)

The very best at times - mostly when we were very young. He loved me very much. We could share our good times, our sorrows. (Pearl, wife)

4. WHAT KIND OF WORK DID HE DO THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE?

Many different things and was good at all of them. Woodsman, mining, farming, building houses, barns, etc. Boiler operator, personnel supervisor. (DeVon)

He was a farmer to begin with but when I knew him he was a supervisor with Dupont. He worked in the big steam plant in Richland. He also was a missionary for the church with the Indians and they all had great respect for him. (Joy)

His early years were spent making a living on the farm raising hay, cattle, sheep, gardening, grain. Went to work for the war effort in the atomic energy program in Richland, Washington, and remained there until his death in November 1955. He died on Thanksgiving day. His work consisted of Steam power production, water treatment, pumping stations. In Washington he was in supervision virtually the full time. (Bud)

From the time I knew him he was a worker in the Power Dept. at Richland, Washington. He was a supervisor in the water works and waste disposal group. (Glen)

Coal mining, farming, water power - worked in supervision, although I'm not sure of the level. (Charles)

Supervisory work in Richland. Farm work when younger. (Shanna)

Farm. Power plant work. (Mary) 

Dad was versatile and did many kinds of work. His attitude was positive towards work because he liked to work. His philosophy was to stay a step ahead, which meant he'd plan tomorrow's work today, making him mentally set in advance to begin a job. He was a hard worker, and when he dressed for work, he wore his sleeves rolled up or down, depending on the type of job and the weather, and of course, wore his much used work shoes, being ready to dig into the job at hand.

He was a farmer most of his life and loved it. When Pearl and Raphael were newlyweds, he delivered milk for the dairy farm his folks had purchased in Taylorsville, Utah. A year later he purchased and farmed his own 82 acre farm in Fairview, plus two properties later on in Taylorsville (on Redwood Road), and operated his Valentine coal mine in Fairview Canyon (the mine was just a short walk north of the east tip of present-day Electric Lake). Earlier, he worked in the "Winter Quarters Mine" during 1927. In 1942 he contracted to manage 5,000 turkeys on his Taylorsville home property for another man. Worked for Utah Power and Light two different times (in Salt Lake County), and Remington Arms Plant in Kearns, Utah. Supervisor as Steam Engineer in Richland, WA. (Barbara)

5. WHAT WAS HIS PERSONALITY LIKE? TALENTS?

He was well liked by most who knew him. He was respected. He was a good singer, a tenor. (DeVon)

He had a happy personality and he loved to sing. We would all gather around the piano in the house on Taylor Street and sing songs when we got together at their house. (Joy)

Serious, fun, considerate, loving, stern. He was talented in areas of his work and his love of life was the Gospel in which he taught all his years especially his later years. He sang quite a lot and was a very good speaker. (Bud)

He was kind, reserved, courteous and interested in other people. He was well respected and liked by his associates. (Glen)

In general, Dad seemed to take a practical approach to things he did, and was quietly effective in the way he carried through. He was talented in many areas. Added to that, he had an artistic, refined tenor voice and used it continually, he loved to sing. And he had quite a sense of humor! For good relaxing times, he and Grandpa Clement would start telling stories back and forth. I loved it when dad's infectious laughter erupted as he and his dad would build one story on another until they had everybody in the room laughing. These stories were the kind that make true folk lore. Many of these funny stories were on themselves and they got such a big kick out of telling them. I loved listening to them for the sheer enjoyment of it, but also it was a good way for me to learn more about their personalities and lives.   (Barbara)

Good singer. Good building skills. (Charles)

Gentle, quiet, commanding of respect. Beautiful singing voice. Good speaker. Could understand and explain the scriptures plainly. Did a lot of work with wood. (Shanna)

I heard he could sing. Kind. (Mary)

6. WHAT PLACES HAS HE LIVED?

Family history shows that Raphael worked and lived in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, in the summer. He lived in Fairview, Sanpete Co., Utah as a child and adult; Salt Lake City, Utah; Murray, Utah; Taylorsville, Utah three different times - starting when Pearl and Raphael were first married; Camp Hanford, WA (4 months); Richland, Benton County, Washington.  (Barbara)

Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah, Taylorsville, Utah and Richland, Benton County, Washington. (Bud)

My only relationship was in Richland, Washington. He didn't live in them, but he built two new houses, one in Pasco and one in Kennewick, Washington. (Glen)

Fairview, Utah; Taylorsville, Utah. Richland, Wash. (Shanna)

Fairview, Taylorsville, Utah and Richland, Wash. (Mary)

7. TELL A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OR TWO YOU HAD WITH HIM.

AS A CHILD:

Most of my association was work oriented but I enjoyed working with him, hauling hay and taking a quick dip in the pond between loads. (DeVon)

Hauling hay, Dad and the boys, we would go to the field at about sunup and haul hay for about 2 hours then Dad would say lets take a swim. We would swim for about 20 minutes then go back to hauling hay. Each four hours would be the same. It made the day easier and created a good relationship with dad. (Bud) 

When I was about six years old I was out at the granary, watching the men fill the wheat bin with new harvest wheat for winter storage. This bin took up a large part of the west half interior of the granary, and they had it filled about half full when I asked Dad if I could get in and walk around in it. It looked tempting and fun, but what it turned out to be was something very different.

"O.K., take your shoes off and climb in," Dad said. I thought it was great sport - at first - and the wheat smelled earthy good and I liked the feel of the satiny smooth kernels on my feet. But when stepping around in it I lost my balance several different times and fell over, each time struggling to right myself again, because wheat in large amounts like this shifts with every step. I began to see that it was acting like the quick-sand Grandpa Clement had told me about in a story - the more you work at getting out, the deeper you go in. I was getting really scared, and visions of quick-sand came to my mind and that I would sink in over my head and suffocate and die - so I started hollering for help. I guess Dad kept his eye on me while I was in there because he said that was enough and to get out. So I was helped out, and was satisfied, and never wanted to try that again. Dad used nature to teach me that lesson.   (Barbara)      

We played on Dad's haypole, swinging up and down. It was a big one. I'd heard Dad say it was from the biggest tree in the county. I don't know if he knew it, or even cared if we used it for play, but it sure was good homemade fun for kids! A rope was tied onto the heavy end of the haypole, with a length of it hanging down. You hold onto the rope length and somebody gives you a big boost, and you go high up into the air. You feel the thrill of sailing for a few seconds and then drop down again. You had to learn to get out from under the pole at the precise second your feet touched the ground or you'd get clobbered by it. Usually a bigger brother was there to catch and help you get a safe landing.   (Barbara)

AS A TEENAGER:

I sang a duet with him at a funeral for a teenaged boy in our ward. I accompanied him once on the piano when he sang in sacrament meeting. I typed Patriarchal Blessings he gave. (Shanna)

Rescued my stalled car, the first one I owned. (DeVon)

We would spend time at the mine, hauling coal and diggings to sell. We would also have family parties at the mines. At one party, Dad asked Don and I to get a stick of dynamite and set it off on the hillside above the party that was relaxing on the blanket. They either couldn't move at all or stood straight up in one jump when it went off. Don and I played with dynamite like the kids now play with fire crackers. Our associations with Dad was on more of a fun relationship mingled with work responsibilities. (Bud)

Due to his church calling of District Mission President, Dad was on the road quite often making official visits throughout the Yakima District in Washington. Some of the towns included were Prosser, Sunnyside, Toppenish, Yakima. When he was invited to speak, he'd sometimes ask my sister Shanna and me to go along and sing on the program. On our way there, we two girls would be in the back seat of the car practicing our songs in warm-up rehearsal. It seemed that in spite of our noise, the folks were still able to carry on a conversation with each other. But on the return trip home, we could just sit quiet and listen to them. It was very beneficial for me to travel with Dad and Mom to those meetings, because I learned more about the church and it's doctrine by listening to them converse. (Barbara)

                                                   

AS AN ADULT:

One experience I remember well is when Joy and I were first married, we lived with mom and dad. I was getting the idea I didn't need people in my life and told Dad so. He told me in a few words that people do need each other and if I didn't think so now, I would before many years went by, if that long. (Bud)

When I proposed to Beverly, I had to ask permission to marry her. Both parents were in bed, when we arrived at her home and had just had a little spat. When I asked for their permission, Ma started to cry and then turned to her husband for reassurance. He was very kind to me and agreed readily to the request. They both then made up their difference and talked to us for sometime. Ma tried to dissuade Beve a little saying she was too young, until Beve reminded Ma how old she was when she married. From then on, no problems. (Glen)

I went with him to Yakima one day to visit the Indians when he was doing missionary work among them. (Shanna)

After I was married, there was a certain cake I used to bake that he liked very much. It was a delicious streusel-filled cake. He said it was his favorite. I used to tease him and say, "Oh, you just say that to keep me baking it for you." But I believed him, and he knew it. It was a joy and was something special between us. On the recipe card, I wrote, "Dad's favorite cake." I still bake this cake often and think of him every time I do.

Knowledgeable about economics, Dad was motivated to always own as much land as he could afford. He was never without extra land (even if it went undeveloped), nor was he a huge landowner, but wisely bought some extra acreage as an investment for back-up financial security. He made that a practice all through his life, and counselled his married children to do the same.  (Barbara)

I'm sure we would have had a good relationship if I had known him better. I only saw him about 3 times. (Mary)

Camping and fishing trips. He loved to go to the American River above Yakima. (DeVon)

I would run in there and hide in the mine - back far enough. Raph would stay a week then come home...too lonesome. I would hold the carbide light while he viewed the coal and set the blasts...we had fun. Raph would always drive the car...Pearl never, too dangerous. Bought farm from his Dad, Darius Albert Clement - 82 acres...water everywhere. (Pearl, wife)

SPECIAL MEMORIES OF RAPHAEL BY PEARL

"Raphael ran two farms at the same time - the one in Fairview (82 acre farm), and one in Taylorsville.

Raph preferred to ride with a saddle, but he'd go bareback  also. He owned a bobsled.

He played the harmonica. He was a good harmonica player.

Raph was so busy doing outside work that he didn't have time to help with the canning or inside housework.

Things Raphael liked:

Horses, loved cars, attended rodeos once in a while. He loved motorcycles. Yes, he owned a motorcycle with a sidecar. [Don said Mother had him on her lap in the sidecar on one of their rides when he was small].

He was a great lover, great singer, a high tenor. He played the ukelele. He loved the out of doors—camping. Raph liked to cook outdoors. He had a coal mine, it's name was Valentine Coal Mine. He built two ponds on the Fairview farm, with a horse-drawn scraper and filled it with water from the nearby creek by building a dam. He disliked milking the cows, but he'd do it.

I used to sing with him lots, then he sang in the ward choir.

When Raph was out tending the stock his beautiful tenor voice would ring out and I'd hear him and it was so thrilling to me. Many times he sang to me. One of those songs was -

"Silver Threads Among the Gold."

 Darling, I am growing old, 

 Silver threads among the gold,

 Shine upon my brow today,

 Life is fading fast away,

 Still, my darling you will be, will be,

 Always fun and fair to me.

 Yes, my darling you will be

 Always fun and fair to me.

Raphael knew and sang a lot of songs. He sang different ones in public with Don, Bud, Barbara, Shanna, and also sang solos in church and other programs over the years.

Dad accompanied Don and Bud on the ukelele for some of the songs. The ones remembered were: "That Silver-haired Daddy of Mine", "My Cross-eyed Gal", "True Blue Bill", "Whispering Hope". Don learned to play the ukelele from Dad when about seven or eight years old. Bud also did. This was in Fairview. They sang together on a radio program at one time.

Everyone in the family liked to sing, and we did lots of it together around campfires, on the farm or in the mountains, at home and wherever we were gathered around.

Some of the Old Sweet Songs we used to like to harmonize together as a family, were: "Springtime in the Rockies", "Utah Trail", "There's a Long Long Trail a Winding", "You are My Sunshine", "Home on the Range", "Red River Valley", "Tumbling Tumbleweeds", "My Wild Irish Rose", "Roses of Picardy", "The Old Mill Stream", "San Antonio Rose", "Let Me Call you Sweetheart", "I Dream of Jeanie", "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine, church hymns and lots of other favorite songs of the old times.