Lizzie Clemmons’ memory lives on through her well-known Christmas decorations she displayed in her yard every year for the community to enjoy.
Clemmons died on Sept. 15 at the age of 67.
She won’t be there to greet the hundreds of visitors that will stroll through her densely decorated yard this year, but her son and daughter have decided to keep her Christmas spirit alive by doing it for her.
Clemmons’ son, Carlo Clemmons who now lives in the home, began decorating his mother’s yard on 10th Avenue South soon after Thanksgiving this year.
He said he wasn’t sure when he started how to decorate the yard to his mother’s standards, but she had mapped it out for him before her death.
As he pulled decoration after decoration from his mother’s storage shed and from a spare bedroom in her home, specific, handwritten instructions on where to place each piece — like the “JOY” sign on the left side of the house — came with them.
“She was out here with me,” as he strung the icicle lights from the gables, placed the Mickey Mouse Santa figurine on the roof and hung her handmade wreaths and garland, he said.
The front yard and carport are filled with glowing reindeer, Santa and snowmen figurines, a nativity scene and other lights. But the property surrounding the house isn’t nearly as full as when Clemmons was alive.
“This isn’t half of the stuff,” Carlo said.
Clemmons’ daughter, Gwen Clemmons, said her mother always decorated the front, back and side yards, and children would run around the house gazing at the wonder.
“When she lights it up, it looks like a landing strip,” she said.
Leaner Perry, a neighbor and friend, said she takes her grandchildren to the Clemmons home every Christmas to tour the lights.
Perry said she thinks continuing to put up the decorations is a great way to honor Lizzie’s memory.
“A lot of people ride around and view her home every year, and we miss her so much,” Perry said. “I think it’s wonderful that they kept it going.”
Gwen said her mother began decorating the yard about 33 years ago, starting with a simple nativity scene, a snowman figurine and a reindeer and sleigh.
She said her mother’s collection grew over the years, and she would always put up a few staple pieces, like the nativity scene, and switch out the others for variety.
“It has been getting larger and larger over the years,” she said.
Gwen said her mother loved Christmas, and decorating her yard filled her and others with joy.
“She just loved to see others smile, and her Christmas lights were her way to get people in the Christmas spirit,” Carlo said. “I’m going to try to do it every year.”
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