Vera Rae Clement

Siskiyou County born resident, Vera Rae Clement, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on March 4th, 2021, at Madrone Hospice in Yreka. She was 95 years young. Vera lived a full and active life, was very loved and will be missed by her family and friends. Vera was born to Roland and Eunice Dexter on February 20th, 1926, one minute and 2 seconds after her sister, Verna, at Siskiyou General Hospital in Yreka. The twins grew up on the family ranch north of Montague raising sheep, cattle, hogs, chickens, grain, alfalfa, and grass. They attended the Shasta River School and were in the first class at the brand new Montague Elementary School (current Montague City Hall), completing their education at Yreka Union High School in 1944. In high school, during World War II, the sisters volunteered for the USO at Camp White in Medford, Oregon entertaining the soldiers as talented singers and dancers. Vera lived for a short time in Milwaukie, Wisconsin (as she put it... "to keep an eye on her new soldier brother-in-law"). She returned home to the ranch to raise her two daughters, Carolyn and Christina, and son, Christopher. Albert Clement and Vera Havens eloped to Reno, Nevada in 1954. When they returned, they moved from their respective residences to the ranch house between the Dexter and Clement ranches to start raising a family together. In her early years she was active in the Montague Methodist Church playing the piano for all occasions, teaching Sunday School and sharing her musical experiences with her children as they sang and danced to their mothers talented piano playing. In her later years she attended the Yreka United Methodist Church with her family (4 generations). Vera was always involved with her children, grandchildren and great grandchild, ready for any sport, school, 4-H or FFA activity. She was a 4-H Community Leader, Officer and member of the Montague Garden Club, Neighbors of Woodcraft and a fixture of the Montague PTA Varity Shows, directing, singing and dancing. She was active in the Siskiyou County Sportsman's Association, a voting inspector at the Montague Precinct for over 40 years, member of the Board of Directors at Fairchild Medical Center and United Scholarships, Inc. Vera also spent many summers preparing entries in grain, canning, floral, photos, fruits, vegetables and hay for the Siskiyou Golden Fair. Vera brought ranch life to schools as a member of the Siskiyou County Cattlewomen's Association and was honored to receive Cattlewoman of the Year, Pioneer Woman of the Year and the Lifetime Membership Award. Another highlight of Vera's life was riding in the many cattle drives and parades in the area. She was a member of the Backcountry Horsemen, Trail Riders and Shasta Valley Community Club Team Penners, where every Thursday night in spring and summer you could find her at the Montague Rodeo grounds giving the young riders some stiff competition for the jackpot and awards. She loved drawing funny animal cartoons, usually about ranch life. They always made the postal employees laugh when she drew them on envelopes. She also loved hunting and fishing with family and friends. The buck she shot by herself gave her bragging rights and hung in a place of honor over the dinner table, literally. Vera was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Clement; son, Christopher Havens; sister, Verna Thomas (Jerry Thomas); young nephew and niece, Donny and Margie Thomas; parents Roland and Eunice Dexter; three brothers-in-law, Eddie Clement (Tressie Clement), Lionel Clement (Florence Clement) and Paul Clement. Vera is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Houghton and Christina Holley; granddaughters, Jodi Aceves (Mike Aceves) and Julie Harding (Mike Harding); and great granddaughter, Lauren Aceves. All are welcome in the Celebration of Vera's Life! This is planned for Saturday, July 17th, 2021, at the Montague Community Hall at 12:30 PM. Meat provided: salads, deserts and side dishes welcome. If memorial expressions would like to be sent, the family requests them to be sent to the Forever 4-H Siskiyou County Endowment (Siskiyou County 4-H, 1655 S. Main Street, Yreka) or Madrone Hospice Inc. (255 Collier Cir., Yreka).

Vera Rae Clement

February 20, 1926 - March 4, 2021