30 Jun 1923 – 28 Feb 2010
Husband of Helen Taylor
Walter Elijah Clifford Jr., 86, of Safford passed away at his home Feb. 28, 2010. Walt was born June 30, 1923, in Safford to Walter Elijah and Reva Mae Birdno Clifford. Soon the family moved to Chiricahua Mountains while Walter Sr. worked on a ranch. Later, the family moved to St. David, then to Safford to the farm in Lone Star.
Two brothers, Farrell, known as “Dutch,” and Ralph and a sister, June, joined the family. Walter started school in the small Lone Star School before it was closed. After the Lone Star School closed, he attended the Safford schools, graduating in 1940. He went to work soon after.
Walter loved horses. At a young age he learned to shoe horses and break colts. This is something he did for many years to supplement the income for the family.
Walter met his future wife, Helen Taylor, at school. They dated during high school and after graduation. In 1943, Walter received his draft notice to the Army for World War II. Walter and Helen decided to marry before he left for basic training. They were married Jan. 25, 1943, by Spencer W. Kimball, who later became the president of the LDS Church. Three days later, he left for basic training.
Walter served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Whineland and Central Europe, earning the rank of sergeant. He was in charge of a section doing observation work for a tank destroyer unit. He directed 2-1/2-ton vehicles in scouting enemy positions. He did artillery spotting and directed their fire by radio communications. For his valor he received a Bronze Star, a European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. After the war, Walter worked on a ranch in Duncan and worked for the Safford Valley Cotton Gin. In the 1950s he went to work for Safford Packing Company.
At one rodeo in Willcox, Walter was riding a horse he trained, named Ivania. The horse belonged to Grandma Clifford. This was in the late ’50s. A man walked up to Walter and offered him $500 for the horse, and that would be like $500,000 now. Walter took his saddle off the horse and told the man to take the horse. This horse was the first one owned by Tanna Tucker.
In July 1966, Walter went to work for the Safford School District, driving school buses and doing custodial work. He became active in the FFA at the school and helped train the judging teams for meat, livestock and horticulture.
In 1967, Walter became an Honorary Chapter Farmer for his service with the FFA. Years later, an FFA scholarship in Walter’s name was started because of the many years of service he gave. This scholarship gives a graduating senior who is a member of FFA, money to go on to college.
In the late ’50s and early ’60s Walter became a leader for a 4-H horse club. He held this leadership for more than 15 years. Many youths will remember being included on the camping trips at Hospital Flat on Mount Graham arranged by Walter. He would take a week of his vacation time to go on these trips. The week would entail many learning projects on care, shoeing and training their horses. Walter also attended many 4-H conventions on the state and national level with the youth.
Walter taught one of his horses to pull a two-wheeled cart. He would drive around town and in parades with it. This was one of the things the grandkids loved to do with Grandpa.
In 1972, Walter went to work for the Arizona Department of Agriculture as an inspector. He worked at the San Jose station. Each vehicle coming into the state, whether private or commercial, would have to stop to report any food or plant it had. After the station closed, Walter inspected the cotton fields for plow-up compliance and any plants coming into the Valley. Walter retired from this job in 1986. Afterward, he did custom farm work for several people in the Gila Valley.
Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Clifford; parents, Walter and Reva Clifford; and brother, Farrell. He is survived by his children, Walter, Jess and Laura Clifford of Colorado Springs, Colo., Helen Lynn and Jim Daley of Thatcher, Max B. and Russellene Clifford of Wheatland, Wyo., and Dan J. Clifford of Thatcher; his brother, Ralph Clifford of Tempe; and sister, Reva June Pearson of Safford. There are 21 grandchildren and 62 great-grandchildren. In July, his first great-great-grandchild is due.
Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, at the Solomon LDS Church. Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
Gila Valley Memorial Gardens, Safford, Graham, Arizona
