Sisters man celebrates 96th with friends

Clifton in his younger days.

Sisters resident Clifton Clemens celebrated his birthday with a little help from his friends last Wednesday. Clemens turned 96 on March 6.

"There were about 15 of us at Ray's Wednesday morning," said Clemens. "Someone in the bakery had made a nice cake for me and everyone sang 'Happy Birthday'."

Later that day, Clemens dined with friends at Coyote Creek Café, where yet another cake was presented to him.

"They brought out a cake with two number candles on it -- a 9 and a 6," said Clemens. "I just took the candles and switched them so it looked like I was turning 69!"

Clemens enjoyed the time spent with his friends, but missed his wife, Dorothy.

"We celebrated our 70th wedding anniversary last Thanksgiving," said Clemens. "Dorothy passed away just a few days later, on December 16. I'm very thankful for the 70 years we had together."

Clemens was born in 1906 in Doon, Iowa.

"My dad did just about everything while I was growing up," said Clemens, "from drilling wells to selling automobiles. At one time, he owned a Buick dealership. Our first car was a 1907 model Buick with a two cylinder engine."

Clemens' family moved to Salem area in 1919 to be closer to family. He spent 17 years in the valley and met and married his wife, Dorothy, during that time.

"Dorothy was a college graduate and I hadn't even finished the eighth grade when we married in 1931," he said. "In 1934, we decided that I should go to college, so we moved to Corvallis and I got my degree in Industrial Arts and Engineering. My boys were born while I was going to school there."

Clemens then moved his growing family to Wasco where he taught high school for a time and then got into the land leveling business.

Dorothy had a cousin who lived in the Sisters area, however, and they moved back to Central Oregon in 1974 to be closer to relatives once again.

Since moving to Sisters, Clemens has purchased and greatly improved the Sisters airport.

"When we moved here, the airport only had a ratty little strip," said Clemens. "I started to improve it and eventually bought it. It is sort of a labor of love. It needs to be done and is good for my health. I haven't retired yet."

Clemens is quick to share the secret of his longevity.

"Personally, I think that sometimes doing things you don't want to do as well as not doing the things you like to do is good for you. It's good to find a happy medium.

"I also think that being around 'flying' people is good for your health!"