The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Clarence Edward Stearns was born in Dayton, Washington, to Gerald and Iris(Casey) Stearns and grew up in Huntsville. He worked the orchards and learned the art of welding and fabricating at Dayton High School, where he was also active in FFA and band.

After graduating, he moved to Portland and worked in the shipyards as a welder. He married Laurellen Jabor and enjoyed a hobby farm in the Banks/Manning area. He later became the head bartender at the Benihana Lounge in the Portland area. After his divorce from Laurellen, he met and married Luana Kalahele. The couple moved back to the Waitsburg area with Luana and her daughter Malia, where they had a son, Greg. Clarence worked as a farm hand and welder/fabricator.  

As fate would have it, Lisa and Clarence had been each other's first date, and many years later, in 2008, they were married at Crow Butte State Park on the Columbia River. 

In 2014 Clarence started his own business, Mr. C's Smokin' Co, where he worked with son Greg. The business grew to include custom farm slaughter, wild game processing, smoked meats and cheeses, and local produce.

Clarence was a fisherman, hunter, and philanthropist. He supported 4-H, FFA, Friends of the Library, Touchet Valley Soccer, and many others. He was a member of The Waitsburg Commercial Club, Waitsburg Booster Club, and the Marcus Whitman Gem and Mineral Society. His favorite pastimes were fishing, arguing, and telling stories to the many friends and customers who stopped by the always-open door of Mr. C's Smokin' Co. 

He is survived by his wife, Lisa Stearns, sons Greg Stearns(Rachelle) and Jared Stearns(Kate), daughters Malia Kalahele and Stephanie McGee(Shawn), grandchildren Shea, Savannah, Graesun, Brailyn, and Hunter, and cousins Scott and Robert Stearns.  

A Celebration of Life and potluck will be held at the Waitsburg Town Hall 121 Main St., Saturday January 20 from 2-7 PM. Please feel free to stop by and listen to or tell a story of your own.