James "Rip" Duane Clary

Pastor James Duane "Rip" Clary, 55, of Carlsbad, NM passed away Saturday, October 2, 2010. A Memorial Service is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at New Song Christian Fellowship with Pastor John Burke and Pastor Mike Lee officiating. Duane was born June 9, 1955 in Pomeroy, Washington to Jim and Betty Clary. He grew up and attended school in Stanton, Texas, graduating in 1973. He married Nita Montgomery on February 13, 2009. He spent 38 years in the oilfield, working his way from a roustabout to a production foreman, retiring from Chevron in 2004. He worked for Chesapeake Energy until 2009. He was also an Assembly of God Minister, pastoring churches in Midland, Odessa and Carlsbad, as well as an evangelistic minister, doing what he loved most in life, sharing Jesus' love, in many places. Preaching and singing with his wife, were his greatest joys in life. The most recent and most loved places he ministered were Cancer Treatment Center of America in Phoenix, Arizona and Golden Services Hospice in Carlsbad. The staff, patients and friends he met came to mean a great deal to him. He never had an appointment that he didn't share Jesus with someone. It's been quoted that "when you left Mr. Clary, you felt like you had just left church." He is survived by his wife, Nita, and granddaughter, Alysa of the home; mother, Betty Clary of Midland, TX; brothers: Alan Clary and wife, Kim of Roseburg, OR, Michael Clary and wife, Misty of Midland, TX; sister, Carrie Lovett of Midland; sons: Bradley Clary and wife, Amy of Lufkin, TX, Brent Clary and wife, Mandi of Bryan, TX, Jeremy Clary and wife, Kimberly of San Antonio, TX; stepson, Tracy Montgomery, Jr. and wife, Emily of Meridian, CA; daughter, Jessica Hightower and husband, John of College Station, TX; step-daughter, Tiffany Montgomery of Rio Vista, TX. Together with his wife, he had 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Jim Clary in 2009. He loved all of his family more than they can ever know. His greatest desire was to see them all in Heaven one day.