A celebration of life for Clarence Priest will be at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011, at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. ChongAe McFalls officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Anderson-Burris Funeral Home. A wake service will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at Anderson-Burris Chapel.
Clarence was born March 14, 1926, in Concord, Mass., the son of Clarence I. Priest Sr. and Dorothy F. (Bramen) Priest and died at 5 a.m. Sunday, July 3, 2011, in Enid.
Clarence grew up and graduated from high school in Massachusetts. He joined the United States Navy during World War II. He worked in construction and as a cook. He also worked at Vance Air Force Base for the ground service for 11 years.
Clarence married Helen So on Sept. 30, 1979, at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea.
Clarence adopted Helen’s son, Robert. He was a proud husband of a Korean woman and loved the Korean culture. He loved his children and grandchildren, especially Robert and Sara.
He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for 20 years and was currently a member of the Korean Church of Grace.
Clarence loved to read. He also loved talking about his time in the Navy. He enjoyed traveling, going to different countries, music and art.
He is survived by his wife, Helen of the home; children, Robert C. Priest (Michelle) of Houston, Texas, Roger Feltus (Mary) of Connecticut; Jon Feltus (Donna) of Massachusetts; Luke Priest of Georgia; Bill Norris of Georgia; Sara Anderson (Ray) of Georgia; Rose Miller (Charles) of Massachusetts; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brother, Kenneth Priest of Mesa, Ariz.; sisters, Mabel Chisholm of Maynard, Massachusetts, and Eleanore McCarthy of Hudson, Massachusetts.
Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Russell and Dicky; parents-in-law of Korea; and aunt, Gracia Chung of South Korea.
Memorial contributions may be made to Korean Church of Grace.
