Obituary of Clifford Stanley Dillard

      The Patriarch of our family, everything he ever did, was with his family in mind. Cliff led by example and was our greatest mentor. Clifford was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather and as hard working as they come. A miner with his Dad and his brothers in the early years, as well as a heavy equipment truck driver, working with his brother Edwin before he left Wickenburg, Az. for the big city life, in California, where he met his wife Joyce and started his family. Just two days after his daughter Judith Joyce was born, he was drafted into the U.S Army. While stationed in Germany, he was assigned to artillery and later worked as an MP at Fort MacArthur, in San Pedro, Ca. His military accomplishments include the National Defense Service medal and Expert Qualified badge, as well as the Army Occupational medal for his time in Germany, during the end of the Korean War. Upon returning to the states, while stationed in Ft. MacArthur, their son Kenneth Clifford was born in 1954. Cliff worked as a welder in California before entering the Boilermakers Union in 1955. In 1963 their family grew again, welcoming Cherlyn Kae and Kathryn Marie. His little family of four grew to a family of six and Cliff continued working hard to provide for his family, sometimes working as many as three jobs to put food on the table for his beautiful family. In 1968 he started commuting to Bullhead City, Az. to work at the Mohave Generating Station. By 1970 Joyce and the the family joined him to live at Lake Mohave, where the family spent several years enjoying boating and skiing until Cliff and Joyce bought a 10-acre ranch in Fort Mohave. Cliff enjoyed his retirement years, always finding projects around the farm to keep him busy, spending more time at home with his grandchildren and wife. He got a kick out of teaching each of the grandkids how to drive "Old Red" (his tractor) and taking them for drives to the hardware store. He took pride in building a home on the ranch for his Mother and Father in-law, so they could be nearby, and helped his wife, Joyce, with caring for both of them until their passing. It wasn't long before Joyce's health also took a turn and there couldn't have been a more doting husband. Nurses who came to the house often commented on the things he would construct to make things easier on his "sweetheart". Fate brought Joyce and Cliff together after meeting one summer afternoon at a public pool in Bell Gardens, Ca. The young couple created a life they loved, and he cherished his time at home with her and the kids. When Joyce passed in 2008 Cliff took up an unlikely hobby that kept him busy outdoors. He found a love for gardening, which he enjoyed very much, as well as spending time being in the front row at his great grandchildren's sporting events and playing Chess with his son and grandsons. We are confident that if you knew Cliff, every memory you have of him was a good one. He was always joking and making his friends and family laugh. He enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends. Our family is incredibly lost without him, and his fun-loving spirit. Although he lived nearly 92 years, to us it was still too soon. He will forever be one of the strongest and smartest men we've ever had the pleasure of knowing. After a very special Valentines Day, surrounded by family and playing games with his great- great Granddaughter, he left us peacefully, on February 16th, knowing how loved he was by his family. We are confident that he is reunited with his loving wife of 56 years, Joyce. Preceded in death by his wife, Leola Joyce Dillard Clifford is survived by his loving family: Judith & Larry Dietrich, Kenneth Dillard, Tonya McKnight & Jimmy Hibbard, Ashton Draper, Korbyn Draper, Mario and Easton Rabanales, Cheri & David Smith, Tammara & Sheldon Hoyt, Elijah, Noah and Leah Tabatha, Jarred Blount and Drake Kathryn & Phillip Harris, Tyler & Shawna Boatwright, Ocean, Brooke and Lucy Terry & Brittany Boatwright, Aiden and Harper Graveside Veterans salute will take place at Desert Lawn Memorial Gardens in Mohave Valley, Az. on March 20, 2023, at 11:00. Followed by refreshments at CoVeu Drinkery and Eatery, in Bullhead City. A Celebration of Life will be held on April 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.- until that evening, also at CoVeu Drinkery and Eatery, 2247 Clearwater Dr, Bullhead City, AZ 86442 Officiating Clifford's Graveside salute: Pastor Mona Nicholas.