Ojai, CA - Clara Clementine "Clemmie" (Highland) Van Mouwerik, age 94, of Redlands, California, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2026, in Ojai, California.

Clemmie was born on October 26, 1931, in Friendsville, Tennessee, to Melbourne Senora Highland and Tennie Elizabeth (Yarberry) Highland. She was the second of six children. Growing up in rural Tennessee during the Great Depression, Clemmie experienced a modest and close-knit upbringing. Her home life centered around time spent outdoors playing with siblings and friends and the daily chores of tending the vegetable garden, caring for their farm animals, and milking the family cow. She enjoyed frequent visits with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who lived nearby.

In 1944, her family relocated to Southern California where her father began work for the Santa Fe Railroad. They made the cross-country journey along Route 66 before settling near Cement (Slover) Mountain in Colton. Soon after, the family purchased a home on Scenic Drive in San Bernardino.

Clemmie attended Richardson Junior High and graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1949 where she blossomed as a curious and engaged student. She went on to earn her Associate of Arts degree from San Bernardino Valley College in 1951 before transferring to UCLA, where she studied merchandising and pledged the Delta Zeta sorority.

After a year at UCLA, Clemmie returned to San Bernardino and worked as a bookkeeper at Roger's Cleaners. In 1954, she was introduced to her future husband, Henry Van Mouwerik, by her neighbor and future sister-in-law Mickey. The couple married in 1955 at the Second Christian Reformed Church in Redlands and began a devoted and vibrant partnership that would span 60 years.

Clemmie wholeheartedly embraced her roles as wife, mother, and homemaker. Between 1956 and 1964, she and Henry welcomed four children—Steve, Dave, Susan, and Mark. She was the heart of the household, serving as chef, chauffeur, cheerleader, nurse, typist, phone number rememberer, and generous host to the many friends and guests she and Henry welcomed into their home over the decades.

In 1986, Clemmie became an active member of the local chapter of P.E.O., a women's service organization dedicated to supporting the education of young women. She was a founding officer and Corresponding Secretary of the Redlands Chapter and played a key role in merging the Alhambra Chapter N with the Redlands Chapter. She also served as chaplain, continuing her service there.

To those who knew her, Clemmie was kind, interested, welcoming, and always thoughtful. She was a steady and loving partner to Henry until his passing in 2015.

Clemmie is survived by her sister Linda, as well as her four children - Stephen (Deb) David (Lisa), Susan (Jim), and Mark, and her six grandsons - Jesse, Reid, Kyle, Adam, Evan, and Ryan. She was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister Betty, her brothers Chuck, Benny, and Bob, and her dear husband Henry.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education Fund which provides needs-based grants for women whose education has been interrupted and who want to return to school to complete a degree or certification. Go to: https://peo-portal.com/donations?step=0

Celebration of Life services will be held in April. For service details, contact the family (email Mark at: mkvanmk@gmail.com).