Clifford Earl Parsons Sr.

Clifford Parsons passed away June 3, 2021. He was born on Nov 2, 1933 in Houston, Texas, to Julia Runnels Taylor Parsons and William Clifford Parsons Sr.

Earl was raised during the Depression era, and from this he was taught the value of working hard to support his family. When Earls younger brother Johnnie wanted to date Roma Jean, Earl was introduced to her best friend, Elizabeth Clowers and the two fell in love. Before graduating high school, he enlisted in the Army to serve his country in, and married his love Elizabeth shortly after on December 3, 1953. When Earl was stationed in Austria, he and Elizabeth moved in with a German family and grew to experience and love the culture, every anniversary after would be held at their favorite German restaurant, Burchesgarten. After leaving the military, Earl, Liz and Cliff Jr. moved back to Houston, near Pasadena where Earl worked in a machine shop and finished his high school education through night school.  His daughter, Teresa was born in December 1957.  He began working with his older brother Bill at Glendale Boat Works.  He and Bill bought Glendale Boat Works where he worked the rest of his career, building and repairing tugboats operating all along the Gulf Coast.  One of Earl’s great joys was showing off the many tugboats he built as noted by the photos on the office wall at home.In the early 1960s, the family relocated to Galena Park, Texas on 18th street next door to Liz’s parents.  Earl built a wooden outboard boat which he cruised Galveston and several lakes in summers while his children were young.  Earl and Liz decided to move out of Houston and built a home in Lynchburg, Texas where the family lived until the children were grown.  Earl retired from Glendale Boat Works at the age of 64 and took on projects at home.  When Cliff Jr. moved to Lumberton Texas to open his own business, and Teresa was commissioned as an Army Nurse Corps officer, Earl and Liz followed Cliff to Lumberton where they lived until their deaths. Earl was always ready to help others, especially if something at their home was broken and needed a mechanic’s knowledge.  He was often called by family members when a water well broke or something needed welding repair since he was quite skilled as a welder. Cliff has two stepsons (Randall and Ethan Stowe) and a daughter, Elizabeth Marie who gave the names Granny and PawPaw which were used by many of the children who frequented the Lumberton household on West Walton Road.  Active with First Baptist Church Lumberton as well as the local elementary school, many knew Granny and PawPaw.  Earl drove the “hay ride” for the Fall Festival at the church and built a life-size Santa’s sleigh as an entry to the Annual Lumberton Christmas parade for many years where Elizabeth and her friends would ride and toss candy and bead necklaces to the parade watchers. Earl and Cliff love cars, Fords in particular, Mustangs more specifically.  They spent many days going to car shows and meets, often bringing home trophies. In retirement, Earl began working at the Lumberton Wal-Mart where even more people became friends with him over another 10+ year work history.  In 2017, Earl lost his bride to cancer and his sadness was obvious.  To stay busy, Cliff engaged Earl with car shows across Texas and the U.S.  Teresa took Earl on one of his last big trips in 2019 to Branson, MO where they visited many sites along the way.  Not long after, Earl moved into Assisted Living at Brookdale Senior Living.  His final days were spent in the care of the staff of Harbor Hospice, Beaumont.

People will remember Earl as a hard-working family man who loved to visit Disney World (or anywhere else requiring a trip in his RV)!  He is now reunited with Granny and their beloved pup Hershey where they can travel to their heart’s content.

Preceding him in death is his beloved wife Elizabeth; his parents Julia and William Parsons; brother William Clifford Parsons Jr.; sister Carolyn June Beard;

Left to cherish his memory is his Son Cliff and fiancé Pam Wilemon, Daughter Teresa. Cliff’s stepsons Randall and Ethan Stowe, daughter Elizabeth Marie Parsons.  Earl’s brother, Johnnie Ray Parsons and wife Roma.  Nieces and Nephews: Janet Parsons, Delores Devine, Susan Parsons, Barbara Roehling, Vicky Batson, Larry Beard, and Billy Beard.

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