Carmen Montine (Gilbert) Clutter

Carmen Montine Gilbert Clutter, 79, of Claysville passed away on her Daddy’s Birthday, January 11th, at the home of her sister, Zenia Gilbert, of Waynesburg. Montine was born October 10th, 1943 to James Lloyd Gilbert and Violet Elizabeth Stockdale Gilbert, the youngest of three daughters.

Montine and her sisters grew up in Rogersville, Greene County. They were famously known as the Little Gilbert Girls. Montine and her sisters, Zenia and Carolyn and, of course, their little Skippy Dog, shared a lot of adventures, fun, and laughter with their cousins and neighborhood friends. Those girls were always into something, like having Montine sell potatoes door to door for a penny, so they could earn enough money to buy vinyl records in the big town of Waynesburg and then only to melt them down when they got home, believing they were famous potters. When an historic snow and ice storm hit one winter very long ago, the sisters decided to go sled riding on the main road through Rogersville only to end up in the nearby icy stream, ignoring the fact that Zenia just lay there, not moving and her glasses half off her face, while Carolyn and Montine hiked up the road to do it again. Amazingly, there were no injuries. To this day, Zenia still has no recall of that terrifying moment, however, her sisters did. Carolyn still laughs thinking it was so funny, but Montine cried.

There were fun times at the Gilbert home place in Holbrook with their Aunts Ellie, Bernice and Hildred. All the cousins from both sides of the family would arrive: the other Gilbert kids, Mabel, Jimmy and Kenny, as well as the Grimes Boys, Terry, Roy, and Roger. There were so many good, quality family times that all of them have reflected on, so many years later, and smiled with the joy of it all: the devotion and sustaining love of family.

Montine and her family were members of Valley Chapel Church in Holbrook and then the Rogersville Methodist Church. She knew Jesus from a very young age and would ask questions that would amaze the adults around her, as if she knew something they didn’t. We know where she is: She is Home and she is healed.

She attended Rogersville grade school with her sisters and all the other neighborhood kids. When Lloyd’s job was transferred to the Claysville area, they all packed up and moved. It was sad for all of them to leave Rogersville, but they all went together. They still kept their old friends to this day, yet made new ones, again, still to this day.

Montine graduated McGuffey High School in 1961. She was employed by the Clover Farm and Sackville’s Five and Dime, and Minteer’s Market in Claysville as a teenager. She always had the dream of becoming a nurse, but didn’t have the opportunity to complete a medical degree, yet she fulfilled the greatest role that could ever have been given to such a special woman: She was Mom. She was always there for her children when they went to school in the morning and was there when they got home. She always had meals ready, clean clothes for her family, clean home that was lived in with a lot of love and warmth and laughter even in the saddest of times. In a sense, she fulfilled her role as a nurse, caring for her family, her husband and extended family members and always being available to help anyone in need. She had so many roles as Moms do everything! She was the best Mom kids could have. She was the best wife to our Dad.

In 1960, she met Blaine Clutter. They married February 4, 1962 and had two children: Michael, of Claysville and Tina, of Waynesburg.

Montine was a very humble and gentle woman and always had a kind word for everyone and so very caring. Her favorite color was purple and her favorite flower was Iris, purple of course. She loved the deep purple clematis that bloomed at her home in the spring along with the peach, cherry, apple and pear trees. She made jams and jellies from the grape and raspberry vines. She had fun going the West Alexander Craft Shops all those years ago. She listened to the Statler Brothers and Elvis. She was an excellent baker. She made the best homemade bread and the most delicious pies and homemade cherry jubilee dessert. She loved watching her favorite television shows: Wagon Train, Cheyenne, Maverick and Gunsmoke. She loved the western movies too. She was known as the “Halloween Lady” among the generations of neighborhood children. They brought her such happiness when they would come to visit for Trick or Treat.

She is survived by her children, her sisters Zenia Gilbert, of Waynesburg and Carolyn Hixenbaugh, of Claysville. Several nieces she loved: Cheryl Hixenbaugh Wilson and her family and Debbie Hixenbaugh. She is survived by her special sister-in-law Sharon Clutter (Jim) Pitchford, of Ohio. Her very special cousins, Jim Gilbert and daughter Susan Gilbert Kiger, of Sycamore, and Terry (Susie) Grimes, of Holbrook. She is also survived by her dearest friend of over 60 years: Marilyn Herron (Burson) Plants, of Claysville, as well as Emma Angott and Dennis Angott, of Prosperity, both she loved so very much.

She was preceeded in death by her parents, her husband Blaine who died May 31, 2020, her brother-in-law Bill Hixenbaugh, her niece Nancy Hixenbaugh Yannello and nephew-in-law Jim Wilson.

Her greatest love in life was her family and always her friends.

Services are private and have been entrusted to Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home, LLC., 3275 W. Roy Furman Hwy., Rogersville, PA 15359; Telephone: 724 499 5181.

Please view and sign the online tribute wall at www.kestersonfh.com.