Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
James Clifton Stembridge was born on Oct. 5, 1932 in Dorsey, MS, to Stella (McCormick) and Charles Stembridge. JC and family moved to nearby Tupelo, MS where he and his two brothers Walter and Owen grew up three doors down from Elvis Presley.
JC eventually joined the Navy in an effort to help support his family and that’s when he met a young man from White Salmon, Bill Kreps. The two became fast friends and when their ship was stationed in Astoria, Bill brought JC to the Gorge. Bill’s family fell in love with JC and JC fell in love with Joyce Pierson.
On July 3, 1955, he married Joyce and Bill’s family was instrumental in helping JC bring his mother and brothers to White Salmon. Joyce’s step-father, deputy sheriff John Splawn, helped JC into law enforcement where he worked his way up to becoming chief of police for the city of White Salmon, and after a long career he retired from that position with great stories of our town, its residents and his many good friends.
JC served 4 years in the Navy, 23 years in the National Guard, was a 26-year member of the White Salmon volunteer fire department and a lifetime member of the Elks.
JC and Joyce spent many years 5th wheeling to Arizona but mainly to Mt. Adams area to camp where the family could join them. Every time you got in JC’s truck, John Prine was playing on the CD. JC loved to camp and was very particular about his campfire, everything had to be perfect; all the grandchildren knew not to mess with Grampa’s fire.
JC loved to laugh, and pretty soon everyone around him was laughing.
He will be missed by his wife Joyce of White Salmon; sons and their spouses John and Dar Stembridge of Bend, Ore., Jack and Jan Stembridge of White Salmon, and Jesse and Nikki Stembridge of Cascade Locks, Ore.; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren, as well as his brother Owen, sister-in-law MaryAnn of White Salmon, and a multitude of extended family and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at the White Salmon Elks on Aug. 12, 2017, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Any donations can be made to the White Salmon Fire Department.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.