Clarence Lesley Cudd
1925-2021
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die . . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).
Clarence Lesley Cudd was born July 23, 1925, in the family farm house near Wilson, OK, to James Buckley Cudd and Pearl Leslie (Ingram) Cudd. He passed away Saturday, November 27, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, at the age of 96. Clarence was the youngest of 17 children.
Clarence attended Zaneis Schools, located a few miles west of Wilson. When he was in the third grade a new girl, Maxine Self, moved in from Texas. They began dating in their junior year of high school. After graduating from Zaneis, Clarence and his high school sweetheart were married in Wilson, OK, on May 2, 1943 – Clarence was 17 years old and Maxine was 18; and their beautiful 73 years of marriage ended with the passing of Maxine in 2017. Three children were born to this union – Patricia Gail, Brenda Joy, and James Lesley.
Clarence was inducted into the United States Navy on August 19, 1943, and became part of the fighting force in the Pacific theater during World War II. He served on the USS Lindenwald (LSD-6), which helped secure the liberation of the Philippines and Okinawa. After two years had passed, Clarence was back in Oakland, California, on a 30-day leave while his ship was in “dry dock” for repairs; during that time, the war ended and he received his honorable discharge from the Navy on December 6, 1945. Maxine had traveled to California to spend time with him while he was on leave; but since the war came to an end, they bought a car and headed home to Oklahoma.
Clarence and Maxine lived in various locations over the next few years. In 1949, the young family moved to Masterson, TX, north of Amarillo in the heart of the Texas panhandle, where he began his 36-year-long career with Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG). In 1960, he was transferred by CIG to Beaver, OK, where they raised their three children. After retiring in 1985, he and Maxine moved to Edmond, OK.
Clarence and Maxine were both baptized into Christ in 1948. Through the years he taught Bible class, and served in the Lord’s church as a deacon and also an elder. He has been a member of the Memorial Road Church of Christ since 1985.
Clarence was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Pearl; his wife, Maxine; his sons-in-law, Rick Bridgmon and Bill Hanna; and 16 siblings, William Coy Cudd, Jessie James Cudd, Myrtle Hester Jackson, Magdelina (Maggie) Masoner, Carra Lou Brown, Celesta (Sis) Couch, Sparkle Donaldson, A. B. Wyatt, Eddie Forrest Cudd, Baby Cudd, Inez Daniels, Thomas Ezra Cudd, Isola Opal Griffin, Estella Beatrice (Bill) Claxton, Joe Buckley (J. B.) Cudd, and Millie Marie Hannah.
Clarence is survived by two daughters, Pat Hanna, Edmond, OK; Brenda Bridgmon, Edmond, OK; one son, James Cudd and wife, Amy, of Hinton, OK; four grandchildren, Chad Hanna and wife, Kim, Edmond, OK; Brad Hanna and wife, Lindsay, Edmond, OK; Jared Cudd and wife Kristin, Arapaho, OK; and Lacey Pybas and husband, Charlie, Yukon, OK; also six great-grandchildren, Hunter Steuart and Hallie Hanna; Traber, Channing, and Daxon Cudd; and Josephine Pybas; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at Matthews Funeral Home with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 2, 2021 at Memorial Road Church of Christ.