FLORIDA / BELMONT ---- Clive Edson Roberts, 73, of Belmont, New Hampshire, went to be with the Father for his ultimate adventure on Thursday, January 18, 2024. In loving memory of a man who loved God and people. His devotion to God was followed closely by his devotion to his family.
Clive was born in Laconia, New Hampshire on September 25,1950. He was the firstborn son of Leslie Edson Roberts and Suzanne Sickmon, who instilled in him a heart for people, a sense of adventure that took him all over the world, and the courage and creativity to change it for the better.
Clive graduated from Tilton Prep. School in 1968 and attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado where he ran cross country, skied, got married and had a son, while earning a degree in Physical Education.
Clive married his high school sweetheart Carlene on December 23, 1970. In their 53 years together, Clive demonstrated his love for God, Carlene, and their children by always working hard to provide for their needs. He handmade lunches each morning, sang in the car and the choir, coached, cheered, hugged, drove the bus, and excavated fields and trails at Laconia Christian Academy in Laconia, New Hampshire, where Carlene taught and his children attended school. He built a physical home but more importantly, imparted a knowledge of our eternal home, and created a sense of home even after his children had built their own.
While his excavation contracting business and volunteer activities with the American Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief team created the groundwork for comfortable living spaces for multitudes of families all over the world, his kind gentle and loving example laid the foundation for his family, always knowing they were loved unconditionally and graciously, which allowed them to then be able to show grace and love to others and especially to his 22 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
“What kind of fun are you having today?” Clive shared his love of adventure and the outdoors with his wife, children, grandchildren, church family, and anyone he came in contact with, leading recreational, hunting, fishing and mission work adventures throughout the country and into the world.
“Keep looking up.” Clive was the strongest and most gentle man. He had a song on his lips and a vision for making things good. He loved to tell stories. He hugged like a bear, loved unconditionally (even if you did get straight As), loved to attend his kids and grandkids events, worked harder than a man should and loved it, played as hard as he worked and loved it.
“Count it all joy.” He changed the world for the better without asking permission because it is easier to ask for forgiveness. Clive’s genuine interest in others, his kind, gentle, and steadfast influence and unique sense of humor touched the lives of those he came in contact with.
He is survived by his beloved wife Carlene Ann (Hyslop) Roberts, and their pride and joy; son and daughter-in-law Charlie and Melissa Roberts, daughter and son-in-law Leslie and Mark Schuster, daughter and son-in-law Alison and Bob Brown, daughter and son-in-law Sara and Trey Caryl, niece and spouse Hallie and Tyler Fairchild McNally, his grandchildren who that knew Grandpa “loved them more than anyone else in the whole world”; Clark, Cody, Cameron, Joy, Caelan and Castielle Roberts, Annabelle and Isaiah Peabody, John, Katherine, Mae and Claire Schuster, Anna, Eliza, Noelle, John Henry, William and Suzette Caryl, Laila Fairchild and Elowyn and Burke McNally, his great-grandchildren Kayleigh and Jacob Dillage, his siblings and their spouses; Lynn and John Wilson, Mark and Kris Roberts, Diane and Bob Roberts Mackey and Roy and Terry Roberts, and many other sister and brothers-in-law including Rachel and Drew Divers and Douglas and Connie Hyslop. He is predeceased by his parents, Leslie and Suzanne Roberts of Belmont, NH, his brothers-in-law Bill Hyslop and Frank Hyslop, his sister-in-law Darlene Bowens and his grandson Trever Fairchild.
Although his presence and life will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him, we rejoice with him that he is in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, of whose praises he loved to sing. He loved to sing because of his joy in the Lord and the forgiveness that Jesus brings. We are thankful to God for having been blessed with the loving influence of Clive. The music he left in our hearts and his memories will be shared, celebrated and cherished. He was so loved.
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 ESV
If you would like to share memories, there will be a service in Florida on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 12:00 noon at the First Baptist Church of Sebring, 200E Center Ave, Sebring, Florida.
In New Hampshire, the calling hours will be from 2:00pm-4:00pm, on Monday, January 29, 2024, in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
The New Hampshire funeral will be held at 11:00am, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Belmont, 49 Church Street, Belmont, NH.
In lieu of flowers or donations please make a point of finding opportunities to bless someone in need, don’t ask for permission.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.