Jon William Clifton, 63, went home to be with his Lord and to walk on the streets of gold with loved ones that have passed before on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010.
He was born April 2, 1947, to Robert William and Helen Pearl (Burry) Clifton in Orange, Calif. He moved to Cabool, Mo., in 1961 where he entered the eighth grade.
He accepted Christ in his teens. He and his Dad were baptized together at the Cabool First Christian Church. He graduated with the Cabool High School Class of 1965 and enlisted in the United States Air Force in June 1965. He served his country for eight years as an Automatic Flight Control Systems Specialist in Texas, Illinois, California, Thailand and Indiana. He also served in the Army National Guard for four years.
He married Marcia West on Nov. 11, 1967, and to this union two sons were born, Jonathan in 1974 and Joshua in 1977.
He and Marcia enjoyed traveling with friends around the country in their VW bus or on his BMW motorcycle during his time in the Air Force.
After an honorable discharge in 1973, he worked with his brother, Bob, of Oak Grove Construction in Springfield and later started his own company, Wood and Mill Construction.
In 1977, Jon moved his family to their farm on Rocky Branch Road near Houston, Mo. He continued to work on construction and also raise cattle.
Jon taught his boys the art and creativity of building things, good sportsmanship, safety in hunting and fishing and the importance of taking care of the natural resources of our great land. All of these valuable lessons were the ones he had learned from his Dad. His legacy is being passed on through his sons to his grandchildren. He supported his boys in all their endeavors and was very proud of the men they have become.
He worked as an over-the-road truck driver for a few years and also worked in construction at Fort Leonard Wood before being hired as a construction inspector of the USDA, Rural Development, where he covered several counties.
In 1996, he had his motorcycle accident that broke his back and left him a paraplegic. He continued to work for USDA, Rural Development after physical therapy, but in a different capacity until he retired in 2002.
He attended Souls Harbor Family Worship in Houston, Mo., and helped pioneer the Royal Rangers program for young boys.
He enjoyed his grandchildren and all their sports and school functions. He had many hobbies, including hunting, fishing, camping, coin and stamp collecting and RC airplanes.
Jon was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Marge and Pat; a niece, Lori; his in-laws, Norman and Treva West; and his daughter-in-law, Teresa.
He is survived by his wife of almost 43 years; two sons, Jonathan and wife, Ashlee, of Houston, Mo., and Joshua of Fort Collins, Colo.; a brother, Bob and wife, Marti, of Clever, Mo.; his grandchildren, Mariah, Connor and Kaelan Clifton of Houston, Mo.; and many other relatives and friends.
He was cremated. A celebration of life service was 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at Souls Harbor Family Worship in Houston, Mo.