Emily Ann Brown Clemons

August 25, 1933 – September 6, 2024

Emily Ann Brown Clemons was born in Urbana, Illinois on August 25, 1933 to Hugh Alexander Brown and Carrie Needham Brown. Her father was a professor of engineering at University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana (UIC-U) and her mother a homemaker who cared for their four children.

Emily grew up in Urbana where she met her future husband, Robert Clemons, in elementary school. They began dating in high school and both attended the University of Illinois, where Emily earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting with high honors. After graduation she worked as an artist and art teacher and her artwork was shown in many shows and fairs, winning a number of awards.

She and Bob married in February 1955 and they lived in Virginia, Missouri (where son Tom was born), and Indiana (where daughter Cecily was born). In 1964 the family moved to Mill Valley, California where, except for a brief time in Maryland, they lived for the rest of their lives.

Emily was caring, highly creative and beloved. She was a fine cook and a devoted mother and grandmother. She valued family above all else and stayed in close contact with her relatives, visiting them as frequently as possible. She and Bob loved hosting family and friends who were always welcome in their home and whose visits were filled with laughter and joy.

Emily is remembered for her kind and gentle nature, interest in others, and love of music and art. Her artistic legacy includes an extensive collection of her art including paintings, sculptures and hand written cards which are treasured by her family.

Emily is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Eugene Clemons, and her siblings Jane B. Myers, Isabel B. Harshbarger, and Hugh A. Brown. She is survived by son Thomas Brown Clemons (Cindy Rice) of El Cerrito, CA, daughter Cecily Ann Clemons (John Gallez) and grandsons Dylan Gallez and Kyle Gallez of Olympia, WA as well as her many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Emily is planned for Saturday, October 26th at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, Urbana Illinois and she will be laid to rest with Bob at Roselawn Cemetery. Memorial gifts can be made to Doctors Without Borders, Mill Valley Schools Foundation, Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation, or a charity of your choice.