Louis Wilbur Clah

Name: Visitation
Start: 09/29/2022 08:30 AM
End: 09/29/2022 10:00 AM
Location: Desert View Funeral Home

October 29, 1932 — September 17, 2022

Farmington, New Mexico

Louis W. Clah, 89, a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, passed

away peacefully, at Crane’s Roost Care Home, at Aztec, New Mexico on

September 17, 2022.

Louis was known by the family as “Louie.” He was a quiet, private man who left

opinions to himself and came across naturally silent because he was often

overshadowed by his louder, strong-willed siblings. Louie often referred to himself

and his brother Willie as the “quiet ones” of the family.

Louie was born in Shiprock, New Mexico on October 29, 1932, and was raised in

the farming area of the Shiprock community. He was second to the last of his six

siblings. His parents and siblings preceded him in death. He was Kin lichii’ni,

born for Hushk’aa hadzohi. His maternal clan was Hashtl’ishnii and his paternal

clan was Bit’ahnii.

He was the son of Deshna Clahchischilliage, second Chairman of the Navajo

Nation, from Teecnospos, Arizona and Evelyn Yazzie from Two Grey Hills, New

Mexico. Louie is survived by his daughter, Malvina Clah. He is also survived by

nieces and nephews and numerous maternal and paternal relatives.

Louie referenced his early years saying, “I was more a farmer than a sheep herder.”

Louie and his siblings helped run the farm at Shiprock, alongside William and

Hanna Howard, who he called his second parents. Louie and his sister Ruth were

under the care of their sister Hanna while their parents attended to Navajo

government business. He often said he learned to listen and be still from them.

Following the educational path of his siblings and cousins, Louie, attended 12

years of school at Navajo Methodist Mission School in Farmington, New Mexico.

He played basketball and football and excelled in track and baseball. He graduated

from the Mission in 1953.

One year after his high school graduation he followed the military path of his

brother and cousins by enlisting into the United States Marine Corp on October 5,

1954, at Camp Pendleton, California. He served four years and then transferred to

the 12th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District on September 18, 1958.

As a reserve at Utah State University, Logan, Utah, he was a Drill Instructor up to
the time he graduated four years later. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant

on October 4, 1962.

Eight months later, in June, 1963, he was hired by the state of New Mexico. He

was employed by the Employment Department within the NM Department of

Labor. He worked at three worksites; Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Farmington. In

1993 he retired from the Farmington Employment Office.

In retirement, he enjoyed watching war movies, westerns and documentaries.

When hit with cabin fever he and his daughter would make day trips to

surrounding towns or visit relatives. He frequently ate at restaurants like Chef

Bernie’s, Pancake Alley, Village Inn and other places long gone.

Malvina and family thank all who extended prayers and condolences.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Louis Wilbur Clah, please visit our flower store.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, September 29, 2022

8:30 - 10:00 am (Mountain time)

Desert View Funeral Home

N. US Hwy 491, Shiprock, NM 87420

Public Visitation - Masks are required.

Get Directions Plant Trees

Graveside Service

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)

Memory Gardens Cemetery

Farmington, NM 87402