Clement Graham

(From Parker Mortuary)

Clement J. Graham, age 87 of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 following a short illness. Clement was born November 29, 1937 in Wagoner, Oklahoma to the late James and Mary Evelyn (Cobb) Graham.

Clement started as a young man in the ministry, serving Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) churches in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Oregon and Missouri. Upon retiring from the ministry, Clement began his second career as a teacher of philosophy and world religions for different colleges, including Crowder College, Drury University and Cox School of Nursing. He was an advocate for education, receiving a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Phillips University Seminary and Counseling from the University of Oregon. Clement was teaching up to just a few weeks prior to his passing.

On September 4, 1965, Clement married Nancy J. Newby in Joplin, Missouri after an international courtship which began while Clement was doing an exchange year in Scotland, and was finalized via telegram proposal while Nancy was spending a year in Switzerland. Nancy survives and continues to live at home in Joplin. Clem was a guitarist and songwriter, and was well known among friends and family for the duets he and Nancy performed. He took up woodworking and watercolor painting after his initial retirement, even building a canoe of cedar strips.

To his union with Nancy were born two daughters, Jennifer Barber (Eric) of Joplin and Rebecca Nako’oka of Maui, Hawaii; grandchildren, Nora, Grace, Keelan, Kaitlyn and Kinley. Of his six siblings, he is survived by brothers, James Graham (Janelle), Ray Graham (Sherri) and Voyle Graham and sister, Joyce Lyle (Tom), and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Other than his parents, Clement is preceded in death by two brothers, Jerold and Harold Graham and a son in-law, Alika Nako’oka.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri. Memorial gifts can be made to Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK, or in support of any school or church music program.