Clarence J. Laney

2019 Officer Corps

Clarence Joy Laney, Jr. was born October 7, 1947 in Morenci, AZ to parents Clarence Joy and Jean Laney. He is the eldest of four children, three boys and one girl. When he was two years old Clarence and his family moved to Dallas, TX. In Dallas he attended South Oak Cliff High School. He joined the U.S. Army in February of 1967 and served three years of active duty, two of them in Vietnam. He completed his duty in October of 1969.

He married Elisa Laney on June 30, 2018. Together they have four children, three daughters and one son. They have 6 grandchildren. He and his wife are presently living in Waxahachie, TX.

He received an Associate Degree from Mountain View Junior College in Business. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management at Le Tourneau University located in Longview, TX.

His work career began with carpentry in construction. After which he worked for three school districts: The University of Health Science in Dallas, DeSoto Independent School District, and Lewisville Independent School District. He retired on December 31, 2005.

He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on August 26, 1971 in DeSoto Lodge No. 1409. He served as Worshipful Master of DeSoto Lodge. He has plural membership in Nash Lodge No. 638 where he served as Worshipful Master. He is also a member of Stanfield Lodge No. 217 in Denton, TX. Furthermore, he is a member of Whitesboro Lodge No. 363 in Whitesboro, TX and also served as Worshipful Master there.

He was initiated in Z. E. Coombes Chapter and Council which merged with Love Field Chapter No. 478 and Council No. 396. There he served as High Priest and Thrice Illustrious Master. He is a plural member of Dad Pender Chapter No. 80, Dad Pender Council No. 50., Midlothian Chapter No. 211, and Midlothian Council No. 148 where he also served as High Priest and Thrice Illustrious Master. He served as District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Council in 1997. He also served as District Deputy Grand High Priest for the Grand Chapter in 2004. He served as a board member of the York Rite Development Fund for three years. He is presently the Grand Representative of the Grand Council of Missouri near Texas and the Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of New Jersey near Texas. Clarence was knighted in Tancred Commandery No. 82 on March 19, 1984. He has plural membership at Alexander C. Garrett No. 103, Denton Commandery No. 45, Dallas Commandery No. 6, and Indivisible Friends No. 13. He is the present Commander of Midlothian No. 82 and has served as Commander in Indivisible Friends, Alexander C. Garrett No. 45. He is the present Commander of Tancred No. 82 and served as Commander in Denton, Indivisible Friends, and Garrett. At Dallas Commandery he served 13 years on the drill team. Clarence served as Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Most Illustrious Grand Council in 2003. In 2007 he served as the Most Excellent High Priest of Texas of the Most Excellent Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Texas. Presently he is serving as Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas.

Obituary

Clarence Joy Laney Jr., 76, of Waxahachie, Texas, formerly of Whitesboro was called to his eternal home on Monday, January 29, 2024. Clarence was born on October 7, 1947 in Morenci, Arizona to Clarence Joy Laney Sr. and Ethel Eugenia (Hanna) Laney. He worked for the Lewisville ISD as their energy manager. He was a member of the Masonic lodges in Whitesboro, DeSoto, Nash, Midlothian, and Denton and The Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas AC Garrett, Denton, and Midlothian. Clarence loved to travel, play games on the computer, he enjoyed dominoes, card games and was a master chess player. In his youth he was considered a pool shark. Clarence loved his dogs, and he loved his family deeply and dearly. He is survived by his wife, Elisa Laney of Waxahachie; daughter, Becki Murray and husband, Jeff of Hillsboro; stepdaughters, Anna Gil, Rose Garcia, stepson, Anthony Bailey Carrillo, six grandchildren, two brothers, Larry Laney and Skipper Laney, and sister, Donna Phillips, as well as numerous loving family and friends. Clarence was preceded in death by his first wife, Pamela Laney and his parents, Clarence and Ethel Laney Sr. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his honor to the Knights Templer Eye Foundation at https://www.ktef.org/donations-page. Funeral services honoring Clarence will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 2, 2024 at Meador Funeral Home officiated by Dr. Fred Thrower. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. A time of visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service time at the funeral home.