Pilots remember flying mentor who helped them soar

Above:
The basket from Eddie Clements balloon at the at Clements services.
Eddie Clements was a pilot and the founder of a High Country Aviation Workshop for Kids. Aviation-full funeral at Mack airport.
Courtesy and Copyright Grand Junction Sentinel, Christopher Tomlinson, Photographer

by Joe Vaccarelli, 26 Aug 2018
Published in the Grand Junction Sentinel

As four planes approached the Mack Mesa Airport Saturday night in a V-formation, one broke rank, pulling up while the other three continued on.

A fly over in honor of Eddie Clements.Eddie Clements was a pilot and the founder of a High Country Aviation Workshop for Kids. Aviation-full service at Mack airport. Courtesy and Copyright Grand Junction Sentinel, Christopher Tomlinson, Photographer — A fly over in honor of Eddie Clements. Eddie Clements was a pilot and the founder of a High Country Aviation Workshop for Kids. Aviation-full service at Mack airport.
Courtesy and Copyright Grand Junction Sentinel, Christopher Tomlinson, Photographer

The “missing man” formation was a worthy tribute for Eddie Clements, a man who dedicated much of the last years of life to educating youth in aviation. Shortly after, a trumpeter belted out “Amazing Grace” in what was to be a fitting end to Clements’ memorial.

The only problem was attendees just had too much to say about the man.

Around 100 people attended a service for Clements at the airport Saturday to say goodbye to their friend, husband, father and mentor. Clements died July 22 at age 69 while attending … more