In loving memory of John Oliver Cliff – 1942-2017 FRANKLIN, Tenn.
Beloved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, John Cliff passed peacefully into the hands of the Lord on October 12, 2017 after an extended battle with cancer.
John will be forever remembered by his wife, Fran, daughter Karissa, son John Jr. (Sharon) and granddaughters Angeline, Kate, Madeline, Rosalyn, and Anna. John is also survived by his brother, Dr. William Cliff (Nell), of Richland, Washington and by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and their families. John was predeceased by grandson Kevin Ross.
John was born in Idaho to Myrle (nee Neeser) and Oliver Cliff. John’s father worked for the U.S. Forest Service, and John spent his early years in Montpelier, Pocatello, and Malad, Idaho and Pendleton, Prineville, and John Day, Oregon before moving to Ogden, Utah during his high school years. He earned an Eagle Scout award and graduated from Ogden High School. He received an academic scholarship to Utah State University, where he earned both Bachelor and Master of Civil Engineering degrees. He worked as a civil engineer, management administrator, and sales executive during his career. As a lifelong Aggie, John actively advocated for all things Utah State and received the Distinguished Alumnus award from the College of Engineering; he especially enjoyed calling his son when his school beat BYU in basketball or football.
John married his wife and “Boo,” Frances Kay Spencer, in 1965; they were later sealed in the Atlanta, Georgia temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John served the Church in many capacities: home teacher, Assistant to the Stake President, Ward Sunday School President, Ward and Stake Employment Specialist, Ward Membership Clerk, YSA adviser, and until recently, Temple Worker in the Nashville Tennessee Temple. John fervently believed we should be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).
John was an avid fly fisherman and master storyteller. At times, when in the middle of a particularly good story, he laughed so hard he could barely finish. John enjoyed telling the tales of Auto Shop class at Ogden High, where he maintained two pairs of overalls: a clean set for the beginning of class and a more worked-in pair for the end-of-class report. When one middle school-aged granddaughter asked him about the Cliff family for a school paper, John assured her that the Cliffs are known for having muscular and athletic bodies, being highly intelligent, and also very good looking. We will miss his sense of humor.
We are comforted in the belief John will be reunited with loving family members and await the resurrection made possible through our Savior. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Services will be held Monday, October 16, 2017 with visitation from 3-4:45pm, and funeral from 5-6pm at the Franklin Tennessee Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1100 Gray Fox Lane, Franklin, TN 37069). A graveside service in McCammon, ID will be announced at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you take a child fishing.
