Elza Wayne Cloven
Click to Enlarge Photo
Click to Enlarge Photo
August 12th, 1939 - January 19th, 2019
From: Thayer, MO
Visitation: 2pm-3pm Sunday, January 27, 2019
Pleasant Hill Freewill Baptist Church - Thayer, MO
Funeral: 2pm-3pm Sunday, January 27, 2019
Pleasant Hill Freewill Baptist Church - Thayer, MO
Burial:
Elza Wayne Cloven was born the son of Christopher Brents Cloven and Anna Lucille (Holmes) Cloven VanWinkle on August 12, 1939, in Alton, Missouri, and departed this life January 19, 2019, in Alton, Missouri, at the age of 79 years.

He was united in marriage on June 28, 1959, at Garfield, Missouri, to Elsie Fern Honeycutt, who he lovingly called “Sweets.”

He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Fern Cloven of the home; three children, Kimberley Walker and husband, Norm of West Plains, Missouri, Stephanie Dow and husband, Rex of West Plains, Missouri, and Chris Cloven and wife, Sandie of West Plains, Missouri; six grandchildren, Megan Walker of West Plains, Missouri; Chelsea Cloven of West Plains, Missouri; Hannah Corey and husband, David of Thayer, Missouri; Logan Walker of Republic, Missouri; Christopher Cloven of West Plains, Missouri and Jack Cloven of West Plains, Missouri; and one great-grandson, Greyson Corey, his special little buddy. He is also survived by one brother, Frank Cloven of Mexico, Missouri, and three sisters, Beulah (Robert) Camp of Martinsburg, Missouri, Carol (Hervil) Crabtree of Mexico, Missouri, and Carmalee (Ed) Lewallen of Martinsburg, Missouri; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Lurine Cloven; and one sister-in-law, Rita Cloven.

Wayne graduated from Couch High School with the class of 1958, where he later served for twelve years on the Board of Education. He went on to serve four years in the U.S. Navy, being stationed in Jacksonville, Florida and sailing on the USS Saratoga CV-60 Flight Deck. Once out of the Navy, he began working at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri until relocating his family to the farm in Oregon County in 1971. Wayne accepted the call to preach in 1985 and pastored at Whitten, Pleasant Ridge, and Garfield Free Will Baptist Churches in Missouri. Rev. Cloven was most recently the pastor of the Warm Springs (AR) Free Will Baptist Church, where he lovingly served his congregation for 25 years. He also worked at The Lord’s Ranch in Warm Springs, ministering to staff and students. Pastor Cloven had a strong desire for those he loved and came in contact with to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

Wayne loved farming with his son-in-law Norm. Many of his nieces and nephews were amazed at how Uncle Wayne could carry three five-gallon buckets full of feed in each hand. He was an avid sports fan. He especially enjoyed watching his children, grandchildren and “his kids” from church play basketball. He liked hunting, fishing and making homemade banana and black walnut ice cream with family and friends on warm summer nights. You could find Wayne at church or family get-togethers playing the guitar and singing those old gospel hymns.

Wayne was a loving, honest, caring and compassionate man who had a true servant’s heart. He was gentle and kind, a good listener and always there to lend a hand or words of wisdom. He had a wonderful sense of humor and always had a big smile for everyone. He was an extraordinarily amazing and loving husband, dad, grandpa, and brother. He was a loyal friend and had a strong sense of community. He will be dearly missed by everyone who knew and loved him. He will be remembered for his service to his King and wanted to assure his loved ones that he will be polishing the streets of gold in preparation of our arrival.

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