Gene Morris Clemens, 80

Gene Morris Clemens passed away peacefully Aug. 17, 2026, at the Hospice House of North Idaho after a long battle with cancer.

Gene was born the last of six children Sept. 28, 1945, in Clemons, Iowa, to Harley Marion and Edna Belle (Matney) Clemens. After graduating from Clemons High School, he moved to Huntington Beach, Calif., to live with his sister, Mary. It was in Southern California that he enjoyed his youth, including riding motorcycles, styling hair on a movie set, tending bar at the Grand Hotel in Anaheim, and acquiring and running a hair salon in Long Beach called “The Pretty Parlor.” He spent his free time with his friends seeing the sights and trying different restaurants. While working at the Grand Hotel, he met his dear friend, Diane Kosonen, and found a second family in hers, becoming like a grandfather to her daughter and son-in-law, Tiffany and Clay, and their three children. He helped care for the kids, Kayla, Lauren, and Mitchell, while their parents worked, affectionately referring to the three as his “ducks.”

When the family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, he moved with them and found a new career teaching Microsoft Office classes for the public. His love of computers helped create Nexus Worldwide Computer Training with Clay. After retiring, he moved to the Montrose Senior apartments in Post Falls, where he was an active and cherished member of the community.

Gene loved beauty in all forms, and he filled his home with music, good food, and good friends. He loved all children and babies, though he took adults on a case-by-case basis. He loved his Montrose Senior community and could always be counted on to bring a unique dish to any potluck or their weekly card game. He will be dearly missed for his joy, humor, mischievousness, and zest for life.

Gene is survived by his family, Diane Kosonen; Tiffany Erbland; Clay (Donna) Leitzke; Kayla Womeldorff, her husband Matthew and their children Henry and Ella; Lauren Smith, her husband William, and their children Thomas and Bennett; Mitchell Leitzke; nieces and nephews Daniel Clemens, Nancy McDermott, Wayne Lacey, Corrine Brown, Cynthia Clemens, several great-nieces and nephews, a few great-great-nieces and nephews, and his cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harley (Pop) Marion Clemens and Edna Belle (Matney) Clemens; siblings, Ernie (Francis/Norma) Clemens, Mildred (Merle) Wood, Mary (Willis) Lacey, Wallace (Edna) Clemens, Chris (Patricia/Deonne) Clemens; nieces Linda (James) Hale, Cathy (Michael) Mullihan, Patricia (Robert) McNeil, Kay Lacey, Beverly Lacey-Harris; and nephews Gary (Juanita) Wood, Thomas Clemens, Mark Clemens, Craig Clemens; Great Nephew Wayne Lacey Jr.; and dear friend Peter Erbland.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Montrose Senior Center, 2280 W. Compass Loop, Post Falls, at 11 a.m.

Visit Gene's memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.