David Lauren Clokey

David Lauren Clokey, longtime Gadsden resident and local businessman, passed away Friday, April 15, 2016 at the age of 89. A memorial celebration unto the Lord will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, April 17, 2016. at Rainbow Presbyterian Church with a reception immediately following in Whitwer Fellowship Hall. Private burial will be at Forrest Cemetery.

After graduating from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia, Mr. Clokey attended Vanderbilt University. During World War II in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy Air Corps, serving as Aviation Radioman Third Class. Upon completion of his service in 1946, Mr. Clokey enrolled at the University of Alabama, was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and received his B.S. in business from the College of Commerce and Business in 1949. ROLL TIDE!

Mr. Clokey returned to Gadsden and married the former Billie Carolyn Gates of Memphis, Tennessee. He was President of Clokey Oil Company, a Gulf Oil Distributor, and later President of Queen City Oil Company.

He was a member and deacon at First Presbyterian Church, and a founding member and deacon of Rainbow Presbyterian Church. He served three terms as President of the Gideons International, Gadsden Camp.

Mr. Clokey was a long time member of the Gadsden Rotary Club, and served as President of the Rainbow City-Southside Rotary Club for two terms. Twice he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. Also, he served as President of the Gadsden Jaycees.

Following retirement from the oil business, Mr. Clokey’s second profession was as a Realtor. He was President of Clokey Realty, Inc, State Director for 16 years for the Alabama Association of Realtors (AAR), Vice Chairman and Chairman of both the AAR Membership Committee and the Professional Standards Committee. He served as Northern Regional Vice President of AAR in 1990 and again in 2000. He was an Alabama Realtor Political Action Committee (ARPAC) Trustee for 16 years, and was a member of the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE) Board of Directors from inception in 1996 through 2009.

Mr. Clokey was preceded in death by his parents, Duke and Phala Clokey. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Billie Gates Clokey, daughter Carol Pha Clokey and son, David Lauren Clokey, Jr. and wife Patty. Grandchildren are Lauren Ellen and husband Phil, Katie Lambert and husband Chad, David Clokey, III and wife Allison, Jimmy Clokey and wife Ally, and Will Clokey. Great grandchildren are Will, Jack and Sam Ellen, and Luke and John Lambert.

Pallbearers are grandsons David Clokey, III, Jimmy Clokey, and Will Clokey; grandsons-in-law Phil Ellen and Chad Lambert; godson Bud Rich; and Dr. Chip Griffith.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thanks to longtime physician Dr. Tom Corley and his staff and Dr. Debora Reiland, also to sitters Michelle Farlow, Billy Bearden, Kim Ramsey, Kendall Heiser, Christina Thomas, Vickie Hammond, Karla Bellew, Josh Kilgore, Terry Collins, Shirley Handford, Noel Gautier, Jana Gilbert, Jim King and Lisa Moland; Alacare Hospice Nurses Kelley Usry and Jeanne Graham

Romans 8:28 was Mr. Clokey’s favorite Bible verse: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gideons International, PO Box 1161, Gadsden, AL 35902 or The Love Center, PO Box 1013, Gadsden, AL 35902.

Collier Butler Funeral Home and Cremation Services directing. Condolences may be made on line at www.collier-butler.com.