Ora Joy Clough

Ora Joy Clough, 98, born Ora Joy Weber on August 7, 1924, in Patchogue, Long Island, NY, passed away December 15, 2022, at her home in Pasadena, CA.
Ora grew up in the house that her father bought from his mother in 1915, with her sister Gloria and their parents Henry and Theresa Weber. Her mother died when she was two years old, and she was raised by her maternal grandmother until her father remarried when she was 10. Living through the depression of the 1930's, she had said, "We didn't get everything we wanted, but we got what we needed." Ora attended Catholic School in grades 1 through 8 and attended Patchogue high school for four years, graduating in June 1942. She was active in high school, participating in plays, choir, drama club and the school newspaper. During her last year in high school, she worked at Kresge's, a five and dime store, and then as a secretary at John J. Roe & Sons after graduation. In September 1943, at 19 years old, she decided she wanted to go to California and with two cardboard suitcases, boarded a bus in New York City for an eight day one-way trip to California arriving in Los Angeles with dilapidated suitcases and $40. In Los Angeles, she lived at the Bell House for six years, working and enjoying movies and clubs with other gals she met that became life-long friends. Her outgoing style and enjoyment of life led her to meet several famous people including Nat King Cole, Ronald Reagan, Frank Sinatra and Harry Truman. She was a lifelong fan of Frank Sinatra since before she met him one day while watching him on the set of "Anchors Away." She worked at Brittingham's Commissary during WW II. In 1951, Ora got a job as executive secretary at Edwin Pauley Company, owned by a wealthy oil man. In 1953, Ora went to a party, thrown by a friend for her friend returning from Venezuela. Ora met Jack Clough at that party, and they started dating almost immediately, getting married six months later on May 8, 1954. One year later, Steve was born and within five years the family grew to six with four boys, Steve, Bob, Ken and Gary. Over the next 60+ years, Ora lived to the fullest raising four boys with Jack as they moved from Burbank to Tujunga and then to LaCrescenta. After the boys were grown, Ora and Jack loved to travel. They traveled abroad and here at home made many weekend trips to jazz festivals and concerts. After Jack passed away in 2016, Ora moved to Pasadena, CA.
Ora was an accomplished artist, working in charcoal, pastels, stippling and oil painting throughout her life. Her unique style of painting with palette knives produced beautiful landscapes of color and texture. Ora was hardworking and honest and attended Catholic Church for most of her life. She rarely complained and always saw the good in everyone and everything. Ora's middle name is Joy. We are unsure how that name was chosen, but it is a fitting name for a wife, mother, grandmother and friend that lived a long and joyful life.
In addition to her husband, Ora was preceded in death by her sister, Gloria Weber of Patchogue, NY. She is survived by her four sons, Steve Clough of Valencia, CA, Bob Clough and wife Deyna of San Clemente, CA, Ken Clough and wife Linda LaClaire of Brandon, MS, Gary Clough and wife Christy of Carlsbad, CA, and four grandchildren, Cassi, Katrina, Tyler and Rielly.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, California.