Nat Eugene Clardy

The angel chorus gained a voice on July 15, 2018, when Nat Eugene “Gene” Clardy, 90, of Lovington, NM, San Angelo and Abilene, TX, was called to eternal rest. Celebrations of his life will be held at St. Luke United Methodist Church in San Angelo, TX, on Friday, August 24, at 2:00 p.m., and at First United Methodist Church in Lovington, NM, on Saturday, August 25 at 3:00 p.m.  Burial will follow at Lovington Cemetery.

Nat Eugene Clardy was born in Lovington, NM, on February 17, 1928, the fifth and youngest child of Lea County pioneers Alfred Vernon and Elizabeth Lucy Tomlinson Clardy. He quickly established his reputation as an accomplished horse trainer and found work breaking horses for a number of people. He taught his children to ride, and continued his love of horses throughout his life.

As a high school student during WWII, Gene served on the home front by doing jobs that otherwise would have been handled by the older men who were away at war. People knew they could count on him for whatever needed to be done - a virtue he upheld all his life. When he graduated from Lovington High School in 1946 he immediately enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. His older brothers had each served in different branches of the military, and he said he was the only one tough enough to be a US Marine. Semper Fidelis. He completed training, had his shots and duffle bag packed, and was ready to ship off to China when the war ended. He and his fellow soldiers were honorably discharged and he returned to Lovington.

After the war, Gene worked as a truck driver and roustabout, and fell in love with Peggy Jean McWilliams. They were married on February 11, 1948, at the First Methodist Church. Knowing he needed to provide better support for his family, he landed a job with the United States Postal Service where he served as a carrier, clerk, foreman of mails, assistant and acting postmaster for many years. His favorite and final position was as the carrier for Rural Route #1, Lovington. It was one of the largest routes in the country, with over 500 patrons along 200 miles of country roads, and he loved being outside and close to the people and places he grew up with.

Gene and Peggy were blessed with three children: Karen, Ranson and Mark. The kids were the pride of their lives, and they devoted every resource to making sure they had the very best childhoods possible. In 1972, Ranson was diagnosed with acute leukemia, and three days later they laid their oldest son to rest at the age of 17.

Gene and Peggy were always active contributors to the community of Lovington. He enjoyed roping and was a member of the Lovington Roping Club. He volunteered countless hours at the First United Methodist Church in Lovington, serving on the church board, as a Sunday school teacher and a 50-year member of the chancel choir. He called square dances and seldom missed a Wildcat football game. He sang in the barbershop quartet for the Hobbs Community Playhouse production of The Music Man and acted in other productions. He served as local fundraising chairman for the American Cancer Society and the Salvation Army. He was a member of the Lovington Rotary Club and served as president of the Open Range Cowboys Association for many years. He played bridge with several groups, even late into his 80s.

He retired from the post office in 1989 after 41 years. Shortly thereafter Gene and Peggy moved to San Angelo to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They quickly found a church home at St. Luke United Methodist Church, primarily because Gene felt it had the best choir in town. He sang with them for 21 years. Peggy passed away in 1997 – she called him ‘Clardy’ and he called her ‘Lady’ (which she was), and they were best friends, married for 49 years. He then moved to the country, raised Boer goats and adopted a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management, which he broke and rode bareback.  Mostly, he loved spending time with his four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Everyone called him Daddy Gene, whether they were related or not, and he was the kind of daddy everyone wants to have, with plenty of love for all.

Gene married Minnie Savage in 2007. He moved to Rio Concho Terrace in San Angelo in 2012 and to Wesley Court in Abilene in 2017.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Elizabeth Clardy; his parents in-law Henry and Jean McWilliams; his sister Wretha; his brothers Wayne, Marion and Hugh; his wife, Peggy; and his son, Ranson. He is survived by his daughter Karen and husband David Aldridge of Novice, TX; his son Mark and wife Jonell Clardy of Austin, TX; grandchildren and their families: Chace and Jenny Aldridge, Carter and Will; Kassidy and Ricky Nygaard, Rowen and Leif; Danielle and Matt Baskin, Aria, Jonah and Branson; and Geneva and Charlie Baker.

He made friends wherever he went, he loved without limits, and his warm smile and twinkling eyes will always be remembered. We are all blessed to have known him.

Memorials may be made to the church choirs at either St. Luke UMC in San Angelo, or First UMC in Lovington.