Clarence (Slim) Alvin Pettyjohn was born Aug. 19, 1931 to Goldie Carroll Pettyjohn and Albert Pettyjohn in Independence and passed away from this life Feb. 29, 2024. Slim grew up in Montgomery County, with his two brothers and went to grade school at Brewster School and then Grades 5-12 at Fredonia Schools. Slim graduated from Fredonia High School and enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean Conflict. After his discharge, he later married Donna Beth Morgan on July 6, 1957 and they were blessed with three children. Clarence worked at R & A Rural Electric, Telephone United Utilities, Cessna Aircraft, State Grain Inspection, Garvey Grain, Boeing Aircraft and Cookson Hills Childrens Home. Later in life, Slim and Donna started two successful businesses, The Swap Shop Antique Mall in Severy and Cleansed and Polished Cleaning Service in Wichita.
Slim was an avid farmer and loved to share his bountiful harvests with any who would enjoy it.
Summer wouldn’t have been summer without the sights and sounds of the pressure canner canning green beans from the garden and cantaloupes and tomatoes ripening on the counter.
Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Pettyjohn in October 2021, grandson Jordan Pettyjohn, mother, Goldie Jared, Father Albert Pettyjohn, stepfathers Tom Tartar and Forrest Jared, special in-laws, Tom and Edith Morgan, brothers Melvin and Frank Pettyjohn, half-sister, Opal Shaw and sister-in-laws, Faye Pettyjohn and Sue Prytherch.
Clarence is survived by his children Michael (Terri), Cindy (Jerry) and Tom (Kristi), and 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Joyce (Bill) Bradshaw, sister-in-law Diane Pettyjohn and numerous loved nephews and nieces as well as many children that passed through their home during their time at Cookson Hills Children’s Home. Clarence knew no strangers and welcomed any and all in his home to share a meal, stories and laughter.
He lived his life on purpose for a purpose and knew that he was only on this earth until he graduated to his eternal home to be with his life-long sweetie, Donna Beth, and his Lord and Savior. Until that time he served God to the best of his ability and worked to share the Gospel through his testimony, example and his finances.
A Memorial Service will be held at Countryside Funeral Home located at 420 S. 20th, in Fredonia, on Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Weakley Cemetery west of Fredonia. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Victory In The Valley at 3755 E. Douglas Ave, Wichita, Ks 67218 or victoryinthevalley. org if you wish to donate online.
