Joseph B. Clemmons III

Joseph “Jay” Baldwin Clemmons III passed away on July 29, in Bismarck, Ark., at the age of 83. His story began in Central America. He was born in Colon, Panama, to parents Isabelle and Joseph “J.B.” Clemmons Jr., both of whom had gone abroad to seek employment as the U.S. recovered from the depression.

Jay grew up in Panama with his younger brother, Stuart. He took his first solo flight in 1955, at age 16, and got a pilot’s license with limited commercial privileges. This set him on a lifelong relationship with aviation. Jay graduated with honors from Balboa High School in Panama in 1956 and attended Duke University, graduating in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Following graduation, Jay moved to Arkadelphia, Ark., to help establish a flight training program at Henderson State University to teach ROTC officers how to become pilots. During this time, Jay flew charter flights from all over the country to bring famous and not-so-famous people to Hot Springs for horse racing at Oaklawn Park.

He did not stop flying, but eventually, Jay became a fulltime civil engineer and had a successful career building bridges, locks and dams, highways, ports, and a host of other structures in the U.S. and the world. His work took him, and frequently his family, to the shores, rivers and intercoastal waterways of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, Maryland and the Carolinas; ports in the Caribbean, Grand Cayman, St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic; and to the continents of Europe and Africa.

He loved his career and eventually retired from civil engineering in St. Petersburg, Fla. Not long into retirement, he returned to Arkansas, enabling him to spend time with his two daughters and three grandchildren. Jay was active in Creative Life Church of Hot Springs and he loved his church community like they were his own family. He was a lifelong member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). He owned and flew many airplanes in his life, but he loved 3566 Yankee the most. The Cessna 182 was the last aircraft he owned (23 years and three engine replacements), and he formed a bond with it that was so strong, he referred to the plane as a family member.

His daughters served as co-captains of his boats, and co-pilots for many trips in his beloved Cessna. He taught them about altimeters, flight plans, flying on instruments, and airport revisions. He also taught them the language of heavy construction. His daughters knew coffer dams, bridge pilings, cranes, tugboats and barges. His grandchildren knew him as “Pop” and had many adventures with him.

He will be missed by the many friends he made and loved during his life. Those who knew Jay knew him to be kind, spiritual, a great storyteller, generous, a good man and a great friend. He favored Hawaiian shirts in bright colors, much like his brother, Stu. He was never much of a cook, but he loved to eat and could almost always be enticed somewhere with the promise of a good meal. He was a voracious reader and had perfected the art of a good nap. He was not a cat person, but for some reason, cats loved him, (especially Lucy, a tiny black and white farm cat who adopted him in the last few months of his life). His generosity was legendary. He never hesitated to lend his time, money or talent to a friend in need. Whenever someone asked Jay how he was, his response was always, “I’m grateful.”

Jay was predeceased by his mother, Isabelle Clemmons, father, J.B. Clemmons Jr., both of St. Petersburg, Fla., and his brother, Stuart Clemmons, of Mill Valley, Calif., and St. Petersburg, Fla. He is survived by his two daughters, Lisa Van Hook (husband Mark) and Karina Clemmons (husband Paul Charton), of Little Rock; three grandchildren; wife, Lynnell Mitchell, of Bismarck; nieces, Christine and Elizabeth Clemmons; and nephew, Michael Clemmons, of California.

The family appreciates the compassion provided by the nursing staff and health professionals at National Park Medical Center, and are especially grateful for the angels that make Arkansas Hospice a beacon of hope for families across the state. A private celebration of life will be held. In memory, the family encourages contributions to CARE for Animals and Arkansas Hospice.

Although Jay has left his life on earth, his family finds comfort in the belief that he is still in the pilot’s seat and his travels continue.

Online Guestbook: http://www.arkansascremation.com.