Services will be held Friday for Charles Wesley “Wes” Clizer, who passed away Aug. 28, 2024, after stoically facing lifelong health challenges.
Wes was born July 23, 1954, to Charles and Merilyn (Pratt) Clizer in Dayton, Wash. Wes was baptized Methodist in Dayton, where his family were members, but later converted to Catholicism in 1995.
He attended Dayton schools until the ninth grade, when the family moved to Walla Walla. Attending Walla Walla High School, he participated in ROTC, choir and served as the associated student body vice president. Wes served as a Washington State Senate page to Hubert Donahue at age 14. He attended Washington State University in Pullman for a short time, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
He completed his bachelor’s degree in education from Central Washington University before earning a master’s degree in education, with a principal certification, from University of Idaho in 1992. He was working on a doctorate degree from the University of Idaho when health issues intervened.
Wes married Michelle “Micki” Conder in 1986. Their son, John, was Wes’ only child.
He later married Sharon Jones Hudon in January 1996. They were members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Clarkston. Together, they enjoyed bringing Holy Communion to Catholics in area nursing homes as often as possible.
Wes was a lifelong diabetic, which eventually made him a candidate for a kidney/pancreas transplant, which he gratefully received in 2000 at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle.
Wes’ loved ones are eternally grateful for this life-saving gift from his donor, Mark.
Following high school graduation and prior to his transplant, Wes worked as a researcher for the FBI; in the hotel industry in Phoenix; and in the radio business in El Paso, Texas.
His teaching career included positions in Fernwood and St. Maries, where he was also a middle school football coach at Fernwood; Holy Family Catholic School in Clarkston; principal for Guardian Angel St. Boniface Catholic School in Colton; Lewis-Clark State College as an ESL instructor and Walla Walla Community College in Clarkston, where he taught political science, philosophy and English.
Following his transplant, Wes pursued numerous civic activities and volunteer work with Knights of Columbus, the local DNC, Rotary Club, Elks, and as a board member for the Housing Authority of Asotin County. He was also a faithful attendee of his coffee group.
Wes and Sharon hosted an exchange student from Belgium for a year. He enjoyed reading and writing, including a few short stories.
Wes’ family described him as a music lover, a lifelong learner, someone with a great sense of humor and a deep thinker. He was always encouraging the next generation and had an uncanny ability to recall a vast array of facts. He was a soulful individual who was loving, caring and kind; a renaissance man, deeply interested in human nature, science, space and the natural world.
Most notably, Wes was resilient in the face of his health obstacles, outliving projections by 17 years following his transplant. Wes was also a man of faith and always found a way to remain positive.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon; his son, John W. Clizer and wife Taylor, and grandchildren Harley and Grayson, of Post Falls; stepchildren Joe (Jamie) Hudon, of Klamath Falls, Ore., Rich (Mary) Hudon, of Edmonds, Wash., Amy (Jeremy) Gribble, of Mullan, Idaho; five step-grandchildren and three step-great grandchildren.
Wes is also survived by sisters Charlotte (Kraig) Klicker, of Walla Walla; Claircy (Gary) Welburn, of Medford, Ore.; Teresa (John) Jeffreys, of Lacey, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Merilyn Clizer, of Walla Walla; paternal grandparents Dr. Charles and Katherine Clizer, of Tekoa, Wash., and maternal grandparents Wayne and Marjorie Pratt, also of Tekoa.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 6, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1109 Chestnut St., Clarkston.
Wes’s siblings are especially grateful to his beloved wife Sharon, whom he loved dearly and forever, for her constant love, care and uplifting companionship that made it possible for him to experience life to the fullest.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Clarkston Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia, for the compassionate care Wes received during his final days.
Memorial gifts may be made to the University of Washington Transplant Center at UWMC Transplant Services Fund — UW Medicine Advancement Attn.: Gift Processing, Box 358045 Seattle, WA 98195-8045 or to the charity of your choice.
