Clemente Felix Vargas

Clemente Felix Vargas, 80, of Skiatook died Monday in Claremore. Clem was born the son of Alfonso and Delores (Ruiz) Vargas on November 23, 1935, in Dewey, OK. He was raised and educated in Dewey, attending Dewey High School with the class of 1955. Throughout his school days Clem was proud to play football as a Dewey Bulldogger. He loved cars and was known for driving fast and low. Clem served in the U.S. Navy for eight years as an aviation mechanic aboard the USS Yorktown, a celebrated aircraft carrier which is now a museum ship and National Historic Landmark at Patriot's Point, South Carolina. While home on leave Clem was united in marriage with Retha Ann Spencer on January 5, 1961, and she joined him at balmy Imperial Beach, near San Diego, California, where they lived until his honorable discharge in 1964. They moved back to Dewey for a short while before settling in Tulsa where Clem continued his calling to the aviation world, building a 27 year career with McDonnell Douglas. After his retirement in 1997, Clem and Retha Ann moved to Grove to live on the lake for about 10 years before relocating to Skiatook to be closer to their children. Clem and Retha enjoyed 54 years of blessed marriage - in Retha’s own words “Clem was a wonderful man, and he chose to be a loving husband and father.” Clem was passionate about his family and enjoyed attending his children and grandchildren’s sporting events and school activities. He loved to dance and listen to music, especially his version of rock ‘n’ roll. Through the years he opened his home to nieces and nephews who needed support and a little help. He loved his family and in turn, was loved by all who knew him. Clem is survived by his loving wife Retha Ann of the home; five children, Christie Ann Taylor, Clemente Felix Vargas II and Carolyn, all of Skiatook, Curtis Geeding and Kelly of Kevil, KY, Jim Geeding and Pam of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and Christopher Geeding and Charlene of Hardinsburg, KY; two brothers, Louis Vargas and Esteban Vargas, both of Dewey; one sister Mary Maldonado and Vicente of Dewey; two grandchildren, Jacinta Heather Cannon and Trey Vargas, both of Skiatook; one great granddaughter Shelby Cannon of Skiatook; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Thursday 10am - 8pm at the Davis Family Funeral Home, 918-534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey. Rosary will be said Thursday at 7:15pm, in the Davis Family Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral mass will be held Friday at 2pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Interment will follow in the Dewey Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared with Clem’s family at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Clemente Felix Vargas

November 23, 1935 - December 14, 2015