Dana Mitchell Clerc

Dana Mitchell Clerc passed away peacefully August 27, 2023, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 47. He was born in Tucson, Arizona on October 17, 1975, to Guy Junior Clerc and Mary Lou (Norton) Clerc. He was raised in St. David, Arizona in the home where his mother still resides and where he had been living for the last year of his life. 

Dana grew up in St. David, attended school there from start to finish, graduating in 1994. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he was blessed as a baby, baptized when he was 8 years old, received the priesthood, participated in scouting, and made many of his life-long friendships. His passions included weightlifting, wrestling, and football. His mom says that being eligible for school sports was what kept his grades up! He was an Eagle Scout. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, square-body Chevy trucks, sun rises and sunsets, Granny Norton's peanut brittle, and his children.

On November 4, 1995, he and his high school sweetheart were married at the St. David LDS church building. Dana and Andi then welcomed Blake and Jayden into their lives. As a proud dad he spent time coaching Blake's youth football team and providing horses for Jayden to rodeo. During the summers Blake and Jayden took turns going out with their dad in the semi on cattle runs for days or weeks at a time.

Dana lived in St. David, Tempe, and Queen Creek Arizona before moving to Texas, spending time in both Odessa and Luling. While he was driving trucks and hauling cattle, he got to see the country as he drove across the states wherever his work sent him.

Dana was known for his work ethic. Long hours, late nights, weekend, and time away from family to help provide; were part of his regular schedule. He once posted on Facebook that some people work 9 to 5 but he worked from when his eyes opened to when his eyes shut. That summed him up exactly. He spent his adult life working construction, driving heavy equipment, building roadways (just like his dad did for ADOT) and operating tractor/trailer hauling all kinds of freight. He loved hauling cattle; everything from hauling trailers full of calves, to having the privilege of hauling a National Finals Rodeo bull all by itself into Las Vegas, with a police escort, down Las Vegas Boulevard, to the Thomas Mack Center. Dana could drive any piece of heavy equipment, semi, loader, dump truck, etc. A line that summarizes Dana's skillset as an operator comes from the classic movie, Smokey and the Bandit. In disbelief, Snowman says to Bandit, "You can't drive a forklift," and Bandit replies, "I can drive any forkin' thing around."

Dana is preceded in death by his father Guy Junior Clerc. He is survived by his children Blake Clerc and Jayden Clerc, his spouse Andi (Martin) Clerc, his mother Mary Lou, siblings Brett Clerc, Stacey (Clerc) Christiansen, Drew Clerc, Deon Clerc, and many cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephew, and many dear friends. But death is not the end or how he wanted to be remembered. His final earthly act was to give new life to people he never met through his gifts as an organ donor. Dad, son, brother, friend, stranger; Dana, part of you lives on within each of us!

A viewing will be held Thursday, August 31, 2023 at Richardson's Remembrance Center, beginning at 6pm.

A short Celebration of Life will be held Friday, September 1, 2023, at 10 am a the St. David LDS Chapel (640 West Patton Street, St. David, AZ) with Bishop and former classmate Bishop Josiah Fry officiating.

Interment will be in St. David Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements provided by Richardson's Benson Mortuary and Remembrance Center, Benson, AZ.

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