Clinton Lee Blain

CLINTON LEE BLAIN

April 9, 1952 - May 20, 2023

Clinton Lee Blain of Pacific Beach, California passed away unexpectedly on May 20, 2023. Clint will be missed immensely by his family and many close friends. Clint loved life and lived it well.

Clint was born on April 9, 1952, to Harry T. Blain and Lena Jo Blain (Hauldren) in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was the typical middle child, being adventurous and getting into trouble in his younger years. He firmly believed in taking action and asking for forgiveness later, much to the chagrin of his parents.

Clint lived in his younger years in southwestern Ohio, where he developed a love for the outdoors. Clint loved spending time with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in West Virginia. In his teenage years he loved to fish and hunt. He earned money by trapping muskrats and selling pelts, getting up early enough to check his trap lines and getting home in time for breakfast before going to school.

The summer before Clint's senior year in high school, the family relocated to Highland, California where he graduated from San Gorgonio High School. Shortly after graduation he returned to Ohio, staying with friends, and working at a tire shop and various other jobs. After two years he returned to California where he lived with his family. He worked at manual jobs for a while and realized that he did not want to be doing manual labor for the rest of his life. So, he saved up enough money to attend college.

Clint was always a ladies' man, sometimes having multiple dates in one night. While attending San Bernardino Valley College he met the love of his life, Maralee Rembolt. It was May 1974 and from that time on Clint cherished Maralee.

After graduating from San Bernardino Valley College, Clint enrolled at the University of California at Riverside where he studied political science. While attending UCR, Clint worked part-time in the university's carpentry and cabinet shop. It was there that he developed the skills to be a competent wood worker which he used throughout the rest of his life. He crafted several fine pieces of furniture which are still in use at his house.

After graduating from UCR, Clint decided to work full-time for the carpentry and cabinet shop while he figured out what he wanted to do for a career. During this time, he decided that he wanted to attend law school and after a year of working at the cabinet shop, he enrolled in law school. In the summer of 1977, he and Maralee were married. In September of 1977 he started law school at the University of San Diego and graduated in 1980. His family found this to be a bit ironic after some of his antics when he was younger, but all of them were very proud of him.

Clint practiced business and real estate law and was a litigator for a number of years. He was still practicing until his death. During these years, many of his clients became his friends. Clint was known for his integrity and his ferocity towards his client's opponents.

Clint had a variety of hobbies. He was an accomplished cook and he loved to entertain friends and family at his home. Friends would often bring him things to cook which he gratefully accepted and invited them over for dinner. It was not uncommon for him to be asked to help cook when attending events at other people's houses. Clint also loved to golf, though he was never very good at it. He loved the time spent with friends and family on the course. Another of Clint's hobbies was bird hunting. He joined the Ramona Hunt Club in 1990 where he would hunt for ducks. One of his favorite sayings was "If it flies, it dies." Clint enjoyed the comradery of the club and would often cook breakfast and dinner for everyone. He developed many good friends through the club.

Clint loved all his nieces and nephews, grand nephews, and grandniece very much. He was always interested in what they were doing and very proud of their accomplishments. He loved to sit and talk with them and sometimes provide advice.

Whenever Clint had time, he loved to read. This started in childhood and continued until his death. In his later years his eyes got so bad that he started having to listen to audible books. He loved to discuss books and authors, often sharing books and audible books with friends and family.

Clint's favorite place to cook and read was in a little cove on the north shore of Kauai where he and Maralee vacationed for a number of years.

Overall, Clint was a man who loved his wife and would do anything for her. He was a man who could strike up a conversation with anyone. He would tell stories about experiences, only embellishing them a little. He was a great cook who believed that recipes were merely guidelines. He was a very good son, ensuring that his mother lived out her years very comfortably. He was a great brother, offering good advice and always able to tell a joke at the right time. Clint was a great friend to many who he loved to entertain by hosting them at his home and cooking for them.

Clint is survived by his wife of 45 plus years, Maralee, his brother Walt Blain of Jackson, Louisiana, married to Ada Blain (1951-2019), his brother Shaun Blain and wife Parian of Long Beach, California, nephew Bryan Blain and his wife Whitney along with their two sons Ben and James of Dallas, Texas, Niece Shilo McLaughlin and husband Josh with their son Caden and daughter Zoe of Livingston, Louisiana, Nephew Eli and his wife Hannah of Dallas, Texas, brother in law Jay Rembolt and his wife Tammy along with their son Alex and twin daughters Caroline and Mars. Clint was so happy that Caroline and Mars were born on his birthday. Clint is survived by three aunts and one uncle. Rose Gabardi of Spring Hill, Tennessee, Addie and Al Lybarger of San Diego, California and Leone Sommerfeld of Hastings, Nebraska. Clint is also survived by many wonderful cousins.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Clint on June 10th to be at Clairemont Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2610 Galveston St, San Diego, CA 92110, commencing at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you contribute to Clairemont Emmanuel Baptist Church for Missions or to "Guide dogs for the Blind."

If contributing to the church, the address is 2610 Galveston St, San Diego, CA 92110. Please specify that the donation is for missions. You may also contribute online at https://clairemontemmanuel.com/giving.

For contributing to "Guide Dogs for the Blind," please refer to their website at https://www.guidedogs.com. Their phone number is 800-295-4050.