SPRAGUE, Clinton Thomas, Jr.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ June 11, 2009 Clinton Thomas Sprague Jr. from the very beginning, lived a determined life. Born Nov. 12, 1932, weighing in at a mere 2-½ pounds, his first bed was a shoebox. Like everything truly beautiful in this world, his mother, Eleanor, died at the very young age of 34, way too soon. At 17, Clint was determined to join the military. The only way to pass the physical was to memorize the eye chart and recite it back to the doctor. He proudly served as a medic in the U.S. Navy. He made many friends and pulled many more pranks across the continents. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained on the front line in Korea. He married Ruth and from this union, Linda, Karen, twins Janet and Jeanne and Steve were born. Again, like everything truly beautiful in this world, his twins were taken from this earth after only a few short hours, way too soon. Linda (Michael), Karen and Steve (Darcy) gave Clint grandchildren, Cindy, Jimmy, Anthony (active duty Army and deployed in Iraq), Katie and Jack. Cindy blessed Clint with great-grandchild Dominic and has another due any day. Clint met, fell in love with and finally married Dale Nov. 6, 1976. From this union he inherited DJ and Steven and Eddie was born. Grandchildren Jimmy, Rhebecca, Gregory, Rebekah and Hannah already miss their Papa Clint. Clint worked as a medical technologist all of his adult civilian life. He often worked two jobs while attending college where he earned his master's degree in medical technology. Clint and Dale bought Fallbrook Medical Services Clinical Laboratory. From this adventure he inherited employees, but friendships were born. With the success of FBK MED SVCS, they opened a second Laboratory in Temecula. However, it was not until January 1989 that Clint really began living after suffering a massive heart attack and several after shocks over the next couple of years. "We were blessed with the gift of time to spend getting to know him and learning far more than he thought he would teach anyone. We joked that his new hobby became collecting diagnoses in alphabetical order, Alzheimers, bursitis, COPD, diabetes and emphysema. He learned to find joy in hugging people, offering them chocolate kisses and patting baby's heads. He also loved spending time with his ever faithful dog, Rex. Rex was nearly euthanized, until we caught Clint feeding the dog his dose of Lasix. "Then we understood why Clint's ankles were so swollen and the dog was urinating on our wood floors." Clint blossomed into quite the storyteller. You never knew what story you may hear and where you might be when he told it. He and a Navy buddy changed uniforms with a couple of Canadian military and then attempted to use the captain's boat for a ride out to their own ship. He loved the casinos, and penny slots were his passion. He always said if you can't play the maximum bet, then you can't afford to play. Dale, Steven, Roberta, Eddie, DJ, Brian, Jimmy, Rhebecca and Gregory are all very thankful for the time spent not only caring for Clint, but learning so many lessons from him and about themselves. "If he touched your life, maybe when you were in need, perhaps a well-timed hug, a blank bank check, a room to lay your head down or a job to support your family, we encourage you to take a moment today to remember him, his lessons and his very determined life." Clinton Thomas Sprague Jr died June 3, 2009, at Hospice Compassus in Lakeside. "Determined to do it his way, he sent Mom back to work during their nightly visit and then quietly passed like everything else truly beautiful in this world, way too soon." His family wants to acknowledge the compassionate care that he received from everyone at Summit Healthcare, Webb's Adult Care, Infinia Care Center, Hospice Compassus, Pam Rodriguez (VA) and finally Silver Creek Mortuary. Clint will receive a military honors ceremony, complete with 21-gun salute, at the National Memorial Cemetery at 2 p.m. Friday, June 12, in Phoenix. "Take a moment to love yourself, your family and your life. Treat them all as they were intended, as gifts from God to you." Please consider a donation to Hospice Compassus, 1789 Commerce Dr., Lakeside, AZ 85929. Reach them at (928) 368-4400.