Philemon Augusto Clarke 69

Middletown, NY

Philemon Augusto Clarke of Middletown, died on Monday, December 22, 2008 at Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, Middletown. He was 69.

The son of the late Charles and Sislyn Small Clarke, he was born on September 30, 1939 in Panama. Phil married his wife Yvonne in Panama before moving to the Middletown area to raise their family. He worked for Lee Zolden as a plumber for 15 years, and retired from New York State Division of Youth Services as a guard at Goshen Secure Center. Phil attended Christian Faith Fellowship in Middletown.

His family and friends remembered him as: "A great man and father who always held strong to his own beliefs. He was very understanding and a good mentor for others. He was family oriented and passed that and his other strengths onto his children."

In addition to his wife Yvonne of 49 years, he is survived by their six children: Fernando and his wife, Debra and Alberto Clarke, all of Middletown, Rigoberto Clarke of Texas, Felicia Clarke, Stanecia Hogue and Charlotte Clarke, all of Middletown. Phil is also survived by his daughter, Esmina Clarke of Georgia; brother Rayburn Greene of Panama and two sisters, Icelyn Laurie and her husband, Billy and Grizelda Clarke, all of Brooklyn; 22 grandchildren: Steven, Yvonne, Antonio, Luchrecia, Victoria, Takisha, Tahisha, Tamara, Tyrone, Denzel, Rameek, Ziamira, Alberto, Jr., Yvonne, Martika, Dominique, Travelle, Shamitris, Tarod-Rigo, Jamar, Chandos and Shakia-Monique, 11 great- grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Along with his parents and sisters, Phil was predeceased by his grandson, Darnell "Bullet" Clarke.

Visitation hours are from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 27, at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 130 Highland Ave., Middletown, NY.

A Funeral Service of Remembrance will be held on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home, Pastor Robert Smith will officiate. Burial will follow in the family plot in Hillside Cemetery in Middletown.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 845-343-6309.