Clarence Jennings Summers Jr.'s Obituary
Clarence Jennings “CJ” Summers Jr., of Hudson, FL, passed away on June 1, 2024. He was born on June 23, 1944, in Charleston, West Virginia, to Clarence Summers Sr. and Aubra Summers. During his teenage years, his family moved to Gulf Harbors, FL, where he graduated from Gulf High School. After marrying his first wife, Rebecca Summers, they moved to Brooksville and eventually settled in Hudson, FL, where they raised their four children.
During the early 1970s, CJ, his father Clarence Sr., and his son Trey worked together, with the assistance of a handful of workers, to build two houses with their bare hands. These houses would become the home of Clarence Sr. and the family home of CJ, where he would live out his life in Hudson for over 50 years. During this time, CJ met a couple, Mike and Linda Dlouhy, who would become his lifelong friends.
CJ started CJ Summers Masonry, a block masonry company, in late 1973 into early 1974, with the help of his friend Buzzy. His oldest son Trey joined his dad in his business, where he had several employees under his guidance. He had the respect of all his employees, and they formed a great team throughout the years. CJ remained the owner-operator of his business until 2016, when he retired to his home in Hudson with his second wife, Jackie, to whom he had been married for 21 years.
CJ loved animals and had a knack for building things with his own two hands. He loved telling jokes, boating with the family, riding horses, and watching TV, especially old westerns (on repeat), the Family Feud with Steve Harvey, NASCAR racing, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his younger years, he performed as a cowboy, doing reenactments at Fort Dodge in Weeki Wachee, FL, and he enjoyed racing on the dirt track. He lived for the days he could sit in his recliner and watch a game or a race with his wife Jackie and his son Trey by his side.
CJ left a lasting legacy and big shoes that can never be filled.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jackie Summers; his four children, Trey Summers (Laura), Mike Summers (Robin), Steve Summers (Michelle), and Lindsey Spade, along with his four stepchildren, Kelly Galbreath (Ashley), Jamee MacDonald (Ryan), Jimmy Scott (Ashley Phillips), and Erin Scott (Aaron Stevenson); and his 18 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rebecca Summers, his parents Aubra Summers and Clarence Summers Sr., his stepmother Janice Summers, his aunt Audrey Riendeau, his uncle Ray Riendeau, and his cousin Raymond Riendeau.
What’s your fondest memory of Clarence?
What’s a lesson you learned from Clarence?
Share a story where Clarence's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Clarence you’ll never forget.
How did Clarence make you smile?