Emma Clinton Obituary

Emma Lee Clinton, daughter of the late Scott Preston and Ona Elizabeth (Gilliam) Britton, was born March 22, 1932, in Huzzah, Missouri, and passed away July 20, 2025, in Houston, Missouri. She was 93 years, 3 months, and 29 days of age.

Emma Lee was raised and went to school in the Huzzah area in Crawford County. She married Gerald Clinton on July 3, 1949. He couldn’t afford a wedding band at the time, so he made her ring from a nickel. Emma Lee and Gerald had 11 children.

Emma Lee was a strong woman with a “can do” spirit. After Gerald’s passing, when he was 42, she continued to raise their family as a single mom. Her children fondly remember being taken berry picking so she could can berries for delicious treats later. She was an outstanding cook: famous for her chicken and dumplings. Everyone who came through her door would be fed, whether they were hungry or not. On those rare occasions when she wasn’t feeling up to large crowds, she would fix cabbage and that seemed to take care of the problem.

She loved children and took her responsibilities and her blessings from raising those children, whether they were her own or not, very seriously. She was especially excited about grandchildren and helped care for many of them. Everyone around her called her “mom” or “grandma”. She greatly enjoyed taking her dog, “Tina,” for walks down the road and if grandchildren were around, she insisted on their participation. She also had an ornery spirited cat named “Callie” who only demonstrated love for Emma Lee.

Easter time, with family gatherings to celebrate the season as well as her birthday and the birthdays she shared with family members, Jonnie, Carl, and Preston, were a highlight of each year. She also loved the season for the beautiful flowers that bloomed. She planted and cared for flowers as long as her health permitted, and when she could no longer do it herself, she enjoyed the flowers that others grew for her. She also had an interest in watching the birds that visited her yard and enjoyed going to yard sales as long as she was able.

Emma Lee was saved and baptized as a teenager. She had been a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Houston for several years before her passing and loved to watch her grandkids sing during services. She enjoyed being an active part of her church family as long as her health permitted and continued watching on Facebook when she was unable to attend.

Besides her parents and her husband, Gerald, Emma Lee was preceded in death by two daughters, Patsy Ruth Cook and Peggy Lee Clinton, two sons-in-law, Charles Conley and David James, three brothers, Junior Britton, Leonard Britton, and Michael Britton, and by a great-grandchild, Stephanie Kaufman.

She is survived by three sons, Delbert Clinton (Susan) of Buckhorn, Missouri, Donnie Clinton (Brenda) of Springfield, Missouri, and Jonnie Clinton (Lisa) of Bucyrus, Missouri, six daughters, Carol Burris of Houston, Missouri, Susan Conley of Belleville, Illinois, Linda Floyd (Ronnie) of Bucyrus, Missouri, Christene Webber (David) of Houston, Missouri, Anna Martin of Mount Vernon, Missouri, and Donna Crisp (Mark) of Houston, Missouri, 28 grandchildren, 71 great-grandchildren, 42 great-great-grandchildren, three brothers, Bob Britton (Janie) of Viburnum, Missouri, Joe Britton (Joyce) of Fulton Kentucky, and Jimmy Britton (Susan) of Steelville, Missouri, four sisters, Betty Garrison of Steelville, Missouri, Leona Hedrick of Bixby, Missouri, Mima Brickey of Viburnum, Missouri, and Dorothy Stevens (Andy) of Caledonia, Missouri, and many other relatives, neighbors, and friends who will miss her dearly.

Visitation for Emma Lee Clinton will be held Friday, July 25, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at First Free Will Baptist Church, Houston. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., also at the church, with Danny Delcour officiating. Carl Anderson, Micheal Martin, Bobby Clinton, Chuckie Conley, Jonnie Bressie, Gerald Clinton, James Burress, and Jonnie Clinton will serve as Pallbearers. Joe Britton, Jimmy Britton, and Bob Britton will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. Burial will be in Odd Fellow Cemetery, Bismark, Missouri, under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove.

Memorial Contributions may be made to First Free Will Baptist Church, Houston, Missouri.