Dot Clemens

Dorothy Lou Moffett Clemens passed away on October 22, 2023 at Merit Health Madison in Canton, MS.  She was born May 25, 1937 in Becker, MS to the late Elmer Carlos and Mary Ethel Meek Moffett. On June 10, 1961 she married Patrick Francis Clemens of Biloxi, MS, who preceded her in death.

“Dot” or “Dottie” Moffett was a loving wife and mother who knew how to be stern and principled, but also how to love, and she gave generously of her heart to all. As one of only two girls in a family of nine children growing up, she was part sister, part mother to her siblings. She knew how to hold her own, whether in argument or, if necessary, with a stick. Her will and determination were a marvel to the world, and in 1955 she became among the first women to enroll in Mississippi State University. There she met her lifelong husband Patrick whom she married after her graduation.

She was the first in the history of the Moffett family to earn a university degree. Her studies were in English and history and these subjects fascinated her all her life. She was an advocate for good grammar, and whether in the classes she taught as a young teacher, or with her four children, she did not hesitate to correct any abuse of the English language that fell upon her ears.

It was her understanding that the Lord sent her four boys to raise because she understood and knew how to handle them. This proved to be true. She quit her career as a school teacher to concentrate full time on following the advice of Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” She showered her children with love, giving each what he needed, which was often correction, even when some of them grew to be a foot taller than she was. Though a Baptist at the time, she taught them and many of the other children of Pascagoula, MS, the Roman Catholic faith according to the older Baltimore Catechism, because she thought the new books were “too liberal”. To the joy of many Priests she had kept in line over the years she eventually joined the Catholic Church during her long time tenure at Our Lady of Victories Parish in Pascagoula.

As her children grew more independent, she returned to teaching as a substitute and was affectionately known as “Sarge”, for her strong presence in the classroom and her habit of starting each hour with the Pledge of Allegiance. Once, when mischievous students hid the flag to trick her, she surprised them by producing one from her purse and continued without delay.

After her boys were grown and married, her grandchildren became the focus of her love and affection, and she loved all fourteen of them generously.  There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her Grandkids including at the age of 68 taking in 5 of her precious Grandbabies after Hurricane Katrina for weeks that turned into months.  Without hesitation, she enrolled them in the same Becker school she attended as well as the School of Dot.  She once again relished the joy and challenges of children and proved she was still a protector of her precious babies by jumping in the pond to retrieve a runaway Will, who at barely 3-years-old had ridden a pedal car down the driveway, across the yard, and into the water.

She and Patrick had moved back to Amory Mississippi after his retirement, and she was able to spend more time with her brothers and sister and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She liked to travel with Patrick or with his mother and sister and spent time in San Diego, California, Quebec, Rome, Ireland, and Alaska.

To say that she will be missed does not sufficiently describe what her family feels at her passing. She was so giant a presence in the lives of her children and grandchildren that the loss and sorrow seem unfathomable. But they take refuge in the words of Our Savior, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” And they know that in dying she has been born into eternal life.

Survivors include her 4 sons, Gregory Clemens (Sherri) of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Dr. Chris Clemens (Georgie) of Chapel Hill, NC, Jonathan Clemens (Becky) of Pass Christian, MS, and Geoffrey Clemens (Eve) of Pascagoula, MS; 14 grandchildren, Marguerite, Jules, Genevive, Rebecca, Nick, Jack, Gus, Henry, Thomas, Emily, Bailey Catherine, Jacob, Will, and Mary Amelia Clemens; siblings James Moffett, Caroll Moffett and Mary Frances Moffett.

In addition to her parents and husband, Dorothy is preceded in death by her siblings, Howard Donald Moffett, Jerry Kenneth Moffett, E.C. Moffett, Jr., Walter Eldon Moffett and Major General (Ret.) Terrell Kay “T.K.” Moffett.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday October 28, 2023 at St. Helen Catholic Church in Amory with Fr. Joseph Le officiating.  Interment will follow in Greenbrier Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Jules Clemens, Nick Clemens, Jake Clemens, Gus Clemens, Thomas Clemens, Jack Clemens, Will Clemens, Henry Clemens.  Honary pallbearers will be Stewart Keene and Michael Miller.  

Visitation, with Rosary Service immediately following at 7 PM, will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023 at Cleveland Moffett Funeral Home in Amory from 5 PM – 7 PM. 

Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph's Indian School, PO Box 100, Chamberlain, SD, 57325 or online at .https://give.stjo.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6740&6740.donation=form1&autologin=true&s_src=tnd

Condolences may be shared at clevelandmoffettfuneralhome.com.