Clinton Lewis Fawver (Floydada)
Clinton Lewis Fawver, age 76, passed away on January 19, 2024. Funeral services will be at the Bible Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 3, 2024. Interment will follow at the Floydada cemetery.
He was born December 14, 1947, in Plainview, Texas. He graduated from Floydada High School in 1966. He was known for his sense of humor, mischievous nature, flirtatious personality, and competitiveness. Clinton was a talented and dedicated athlete and excelled at football, basketball, and track and field. For example, he was approached about playing football at New Mexico State University. The opportunity to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point was another offer extended to him. Clinton was devoted to his family and chose to stay closer to home, attending college at Texas Tech University for a short time before returning to Floydada to work with his parents, who owned and operated Floydada Implement. He worked there for twenty years while farming cotton and wheat outside town. Clinton had an impressive mechanical aptitude; he could repair anything. Anyone who farmed in Floyd County likely had him out at least once to work on their farm equipment. Decades later, he could still recall the exact model of a tractor or combine and the repairs he had performed on them based on a farmer’s name.
In the late 1970s, Clinton was saved and began his most important journey – a lifelong relationship with God. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and joined the Bible Baptist Church in Floydada. There was no doubt where you would find Clinton on Sundays or Wednesday evenings. Once he had children, they were always right there with him. In his conversations and interactions with people – both those he knew and those he just met – he shared his faith and looked for ways to bless others.
He continued setting an example for his children as he returned to college at 41 to finish his bachelor’s degree at West Texas State University in Canyon. Education was important, and he believed pursuing a goal was never too late. Clinton was always a terrific student but extremely talented at math and chemistry. Friends and family marveled at his ability to perform complex equations in his head, a talent he retained even into his seventies. Upon graduating from college in 1990, he coached and taught at Floydada and Patton Springs ISD, combining his natural talents with his greatest interests. He then worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for twenty years, teaching math and technology. While his teaching and coaching jobs were difficult and challenging, he found great satisfaction in finding new ways to help students connect with complex ideas. Many of his former students shared how his teaching approach helped them overcome obstacles they did not think possible and how it altered their direction in life as adults. As a coach, Clinton was tough but fair. He had high expectations for the athletes and taught them to have high expectations for themselves in everything they did – just like he did with his own kids.
While raising two kids in Welch, Clinton became well-known in the community. He never missed an opportunity to cheer on AJ and Lewis in anything they endeavored. He was fondly called ‘Dad’ by many junior high and high school kids who were friends with his own. Clinton was the father, always cheering on the sidelines, saying grace before a meal, ready with a hug in times of distress, and pushing his children to set and accomplish big goals. One of his greatest achievements was leading his children to God. His commitment to his faith and his children was undeniable.
Retirement is a concept Clinton never became well-acquainted with. His motto was to choose to wear out, never to rust out. He was up early most mornings because he always had a list of things to accomplish before the day was done. That drive propelled him throughout his life despite heartache, seemingly insurmountable challenges, and great adversity. Anyone who knew Clinton knew these things: he would give them the shirt off his back if needed, he was exceedingly proud of his children and grandchildren, he was an enthusiastic and animated storyteller, he was a voracious reader, and he loved tinkering in his shop and driving out to the farms. As everyone knew, he and Kay were an inseparable pair. They enjoyed road trips, watching football, and working on projects together.
Clinton is now reunited with his parents, R.C. ‘Carlton’ and Louise Fawver. He is survived by his devoted companion, Kay Hicks; proud children, AJ Fawver of Lubbock and her fiancé, Mike Mansfield of Fort Worth, and Lewis Fawver and his wife, Abby Fawver, of Whitharral; and loving grandchildren, Grace, Faith, and Bliss Fawver, also of Whitharral.
