Clinton Edward Staples Jr.

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Clinton Edward Staples, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on March 30, 2024. He was born to Nettie Mae Staples and Clinton Edward Staples on November 12, 1963, in Flint, Michigan. Clinton was a Flint Northwestern Wildcat having graduated from Northwestern High school in 1981, but you would have thought he was a Fremont Ross Little Giant as well. He could be seen cooking for his Northwestern High School classmates during class reunion tailgates but also, for more than two decades, he supported Fremont Ross athletic teams and would not only attend home games with his buddy, Jeff Brown, but would travel to away games as well. “Toot” as he was affectionately known, was an avid sports fan. His favorite college team was the Michigan Wolverines, his professional team was the Detroit Lions, but he could be seen sporting Cleveland Browns gear on occasion.

His dual allegiances can be traced to his move to Fremont when he was 18 to stay with his aunt, Mary Bowie. He often would say “Fremont made me.” He had a true affection for the city, his family, and his friends. While he lived most recently in Toledo, you would often see him driving around Fremont, with his head hanging out the window and his former dog, Flint, by his side.

Toot had two passions; food, and storytelling. He was an excellent cook, who loved to snack, with ice cream being one of his favorites. He loved his mom and his sister Sophie’s home cooked meals, and he expected one each time he would visit them in Michigan. Toot was the one called upon to secure and fry the fish for a family fish fry. His storytelling was unmatched. He could tell you a story with a straight face, that had no basis in truth, and make it sound believable. He could always make you laugh.

Toot worked for 11 years for the Whirlpool Corporation in Clyde. In 1995, he went to work for General Motors in Cleveland. He last worked for GM in Toledo and spent 29 years with the company.

Toot was a man big on family. He was also a man who treated friends like family. You could call upon him for a ride to work, a ride to the airport, and for him to cook you a meal. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Nettie Mae and Clinton Staples. He was also preceded in death by his grandson, Zion Lamont Staples, and his beloved sister, Santa C. Staples. He is survived by his wife, Ava Staples, his son, Clinton Staples III "Beep", his grandson Jayron Staples, granddaughter, Ambria Staples, his sister Sophia R. Staples, his aunts, Mary Bowie and Connie Rollins-Johnson, and first cousins, Orlando Carter, Robyn Price (Connie Tripp), and Roxanne Price.  Also left to mourn his loss are family members Willie James Martin and Jamel and Jay Fant, as well as friend Maury Willis and a host of other relatives and friends. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home, 900 North Street, Fremont, OH, 43420. Additional visitation will be Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 10:00 AM, with the service starting promptly at 11:00 AM at the funeral home. For those unable to attend services in Fremont, live-streaming will be available by following the link provided on his obituary page.

Additoinal services will be held in Michigan, where Toot will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., Flint, MI, 48505, and may be viewed Friday, April 12, 2024, with family present from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM to receive friends. Additional visitation will be Saturday April 13, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00PM. Interment Sunset Hills, G-4413 Flushing Rd.

To express online condolences or to watch Toot’s Tribute Video or Fremont services, please visit: www.hermanfh.com