6 Mar 1923 – 6 Apr 2007
3rd Great Granddaguther of Philip Cardon and Martha Marie Tourn
2nd Great Granddaughter of Louis Philippe Cardon and Susette Stalé
Great Granddaughter of Joseph Samuel Cardon and Selenia Mesenile Walker
Granddaughter of Salenia Verminnie Cardon and Ernest Guy Taylor
Daughter of Jesse Elmer Taylor and Eva Iris Hoopes
Helen Taylor Clifford, 84, passed away Friday, April 6, 2007, in Safford. Helen was born March 6, 1923, at her Grandmother Hoopes’ home in Thatcher to Jesse Elmer and Eva Iris Hoopes Taylor. She was the second child of nine children born to this union.
Helen grew up in Safford, helping out at her father’s Texaco station and store. She often spoke of the car caravans that came through town, stopping at the station to refuel. The fuel pumps were operated by hand at this time, so all the children would come over and work hand-pumping gas for the cars.
She graduated from Safford High School in 1940 and attended Eastern Arizona Junior College for two years. She met her future husband, Walter E. Clifford Jr., while in high school, where they begin dating. They were married Jan. 25, 1943, three days before Walter left for World War II basic training. She moved to Hattiesburg, Miss., and worked in a sewing factory to be with Walter before he was shipped overseas. She then moved back to Safford.
Helen was well known for her homemade angel food cakes during the 1950s, making them to sell to regular customers. She also sewed for many family, friends and neighbors, often using the printed cloth sacks that feed and flour came in. After her four children were in school, she went to work for her brother, LaVar Taylor, at his Texaco station. Later, she worked at Thriftee Food Store, when it was owned by the Smith Brothers.
Walter and Helen loved to travel. They visited many sites west of the Mississippi River. They would often accompany their children and grandchildren on their vacations. They loved spending time with their family, often having a cookout just so everyone could catch up with everyone else.
Helen always had cookies and treats for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they visited; this is the reason she was lovingly known as “Grandma Cookie” by them. Helen loved to cook, crochet and quilt. She would make dozens of doilies each year to donate to the hospital gift shop and to the Christmas House. She pieced many quilts and hand-quilted them. Each of her children and grandchildren has a handmade quilt. Often others would seek out her quilts for raffles or a donation for fund-raising events.
Walter cut and baled hay, plowed, disked and planted fields all over the Valley. Helen would follow him in the pickup as he moved equipment up and down the highway. She would then sit in the pickup reading, writing letters or crocheting as he worked.
Helen is survived by her husband, Walter F. Clifford Jr.; three sons, Walter Jess (Laura) of Colorado Springs, Colo., Max B. (Rustie) of Safford and Dan J. of Thatcher; and one daughter, Lynn (Jim) Daley of Thatcher; three sisters, LaRue Noble and Eva Gene Shiflet of Mesa and Charlene Good of Safford; two brothers, Irvin Taylor of Safford and LaVar Taylor of Mesa. She has 20 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse E. and Eva I. Taylor, and three sisters, Margie Burk, Patsy Beavers and Georgie Noble.
Funeral services were conducted April 10 at the Solomon LDS Chapel with interment in the Gila Valley Memorial Gardens.
Arrangements were entrusted to McDougal’s Caldwell Chapel.
Gila Valley Memorial Gardens, Safford, Graham, Arizona
