Our beautiful Mother Merle Joy Clampitt, “Little Glass China Doll”, went home to her other family on Friday, January 15, 2016, with her children and other family members by her side. She was born January 9, 1938, two miles west of Oswego to Josephine (Schindler) Jackson and Wilson Jackson, she was the fourth child born. She attended Frazer School.
Merle worked at Glasgow Air Base, Ceta Program, Supervisor of NYC workers, painting with her brother-in-law, Joe Beston Sr., and then she retired to stay at home being a homemaker.
She loved to ride horses in her younger years; on her mare named Goldie. She attended all the rodeos, she enjoyed hunting, pow-wows and especially cruising with her grandchildren and nephews on the bottom country roads.
She married Dallas Howard Sr. and had three children form this marriage; Dallas Jr., Joseph, and Jody. They later divorced. She then married Fletcher Jay Clampitt and had two children Fletcher and Frances Clampitt. Fletcher later passed away and she then remained single raising her children.
Merle is survived by her children; Dallas Howard Jr., of Frazer, Montana, Jody Howard, whereabouts unknown, Fletcher (Donna) Clampitt of Frazer, Montana, Frances (Dooley) Clampitt of Frazer,Montana, Ray Clampitt of Nashua, Montana, Curt Jay Clampitt of Glasgow, Montana; her sisters, Susan (Henry) LaRoque of Frazer, Shari (Joe) Beston of Frazer, Cheryl Doney of Wiota, Montana, Rosalie Smoker of Frazer, Roxy MacDonald of Frazer; and numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Wilson and Josephine Jackson; her son, Joseph Wilson Howard; her grandson, Dallas Howard III; great-granddaughter, Jessica Keiser; brothers, Maynard Jackson Sr. and Darrell Jackson Sr.; sisters Pearl Bird, Farrell Strahs, and Marilyn Steele; brother-in-laws, Sidney Bird, Lonnie Steele Sr., and John Doney; nieces, nephews, cousins too many to list.
Merle was the most loving mother, aunt, grandmother and friend, she will be missed by all that loved her.
Funeral service will be held Monday, January 18, 2016 at Frazer Hall with Father Martin Officiating burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Frazer.