Loretta Ann DeMars was born on Wednesday, September 28, 1932 and passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2022.

Loretta lived 89 wonderful years and was a blessing to all who knew her. She was born in Washington D.C. and briefly lived in the Baltimore area. In the 1950's, she relocated to Pensacola, where she met her husband and raised their four children, including a set of twins. She chose to transition to an apartment in Gulf Breeze in 2016, to be closer to her youngest daughter, to her work, and to her church. Loretta worked many years as a teacher assistant in Escambia County. Following a brief retirement, she was blessed to find work at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church Children's Place, where she had the pleasure of teaching cooking classes. She loved and nurtured children for many decades, which brought her great joy. Her love for her "school children" was surpassed only by her deep and abiding love for her own children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was an active member of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed serving others. Loretta has loved so many and has been loved by so many more.

Loretta is predeceased by her husband, William Clanton; her son, Jon Albert; her mother, Anna Beatrice; her sister, Mary; her brother Ralph; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She is survived by her son, Bruce, her former daughter-in-law, Mary DeMars; her daughter Brenda, and son-in-law, Phil; her daughter, Sharon and son-in-law, Gary; her four grandchildren, Veronika and husband, Paul, Anna, Alex and his fiancé, Rebecca, and Michael; two great grandchildren, Brenna and Bailey. Loretta is also survived by her close friend, Terrie Diamond, who loved and appreciated our mother's humor. Special thanks to Terrie for the frequent visits and calls. Loretta will be sorely missed and will be fondly remembered for many things including her wit, her cooking, sewing, and crafting skills, her work ethic, and her desire to make this world a better place, one person at a time. Above all, she will be remembered as a child of God whom she loved and served all of her life.

A service to honor Loretta's life will be held at 8:30 am on Friday, June 3, 2022 at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church Chapel, with Rev. Daniel "Dan" Morris, officiating. A committal service will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.