Ida Clement

Kingsville, TX Ida Illa Louise Larkin Clement died peacefully April 1, 2014 at her residence on King Ranch after a lengthy illness. Born Jan. 19, 1919 in New York City, she resided at 119 E. 81st Street. It is easy to see why 19 was her lucky number, but her favorite numbers were her 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Her attention to her family earned her the affectionate nickname, Mother Goose. Above all, Illa was devoted to her husband, Jim.
Illa, the daughter of Henrietta Rosa Kleberg and John Adrian Larkin, graduated from the Ethel Walker School, of Simsbury, Conn. She married James Jim H. Clement in 1943. In 1949, the family moved to South Texas. From recreating Raglands Department store into a premier shopping destination to designing beautiful tapestries, Illas artistry and flair were only matched by her energy and work ethic. As indefatigable as she was, she also was very involved in philanthropy and volunteer work. She helped start and build the Epiphany Episcopal day school in Kingsville and she often privately came to the aid of many families in need.
While actively engaged in a variety of community based efforts she was most proud of her support of NAS Kingsville, so it is possible the Blue Angels winged her away after their recent visit. In spite of not attending college she became a treasured member of the Trinity University board in San Antonio, Texas. She also served on the boards of and was active with Celanese, the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and the James Madison Council of the Library of Congress. A lifelong Republican, she worked tirelessly to bring a viable two party system to South Texas.
Illa will be dearly missed and will be most fondly remembered for her contagious laugh and funloving spirit.
She is survived by her children, daughter Leslie and husband, Pat Jackson daughter, Pruyn Hildebrand son, Martin and wife, Melinda daughter, Ida Louise and husband John T. Steen Jr. son Jamey and wife Judy daughter Alice and husband Eric Foultz 17 grandchildren: Henrietta and husband, Eric Armbruster Perry C. Finger Marshall Hildebrand Irene Hildebrand and husband, Frank Torres Martin W. Clement III John T. Steen III and wife Mary Illa Steen and husband Will Gaunt Jamey Steen Capera Clement and husband, Igor Norinsky Lt. James Clement III, USMC Capt. Gregory Clement, USMC Lisa Carrington and husband Greg Bohn Clay Carrington and wife Elizabeth Clement Carrington Rahm Carrington Andye Foultz and Griffin Foultz, plus 10 greatgrandchildren: Larkin Armbruster Taylor, Samantha, Elizabeth and Loretta Torres Larkin and Ivy Steen Igby Norinsky and Sloan and Walker Carrington.
The family would like to thank Jane and Scott Dodds, who led a wonderful corps of caregivers for their untiring and loving care of our mother. They are: Meme Burden, Trina Cavazos and Pita and Cipriano Escobedo, plus Norma Adrian, Edna Alvarado, Rosalinda Durbin, Norma Figueroa Elda Garza, Rachel Henderson, Jennifer Macias, Elvia Del Moral, Anna Lisa Saldana and Robert Caldera.
Services will be held at Epiphany Episcopal Church, Kingsville, Texas at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 5th. In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts be made to the charity of their choice or to the Epiphany Episcopal School, 206 N 3rd St, Kingsville, TX 78363.
Services are entrusted to TurcottePiper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd., Kingsville, Texas.

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