Clifford 'Cliff' Parker
Born In: Kisbey, Saskatchewan, Canada
Born: April 15th, 1915
Passed in: Clinton, Ontario, Canada
Passed on: June 19th, 2012
Peacefully at Huronview on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, Clifford Gordon Parker of Clinton, Ont.
Clifford or Cliff, as he was known, was born at Kisbey, Sask., son of the late James Bennett Parker and Charlotte Melinda Gordon on April 15, 1915.
The son of homesteaders, his first love was to the land but losing his father early in life and family moving to the west coast put his farming career on hold. He tried his hand at a number of jobs including assistant to a funeral director, which worked out until he had to retrieve three of his friends. A smart mother sent him back to farming, something he was cut out for. The timing was not in his favour for farming in Saskatchewan at the time, and for him was not very good.
With the advice of a school teacher, he applied for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Times were so bad he had to borrow $25 from his uncle to get to Regina. Placing his application, he was ready to head home with only enough money to get by on, there was no time to linger. It was then that he got word that he was accepted and would be heading out the next day. So he was on his way to Trenton, Ont. for training. The next posting sent him to Halifax and into the arms of his late wife, Martha Flora Parker of McNab’s Cove, Cape Breton. She had been working in Halifax at the time. It must have been love at first sight or as I was told she made the best sandwiches. A tip his uncle had given him when he left home; look for a girl who is older and a good cook. This advice came from a confirmed bachelor.
Now the rest is history, from Halifax to Clinton in 1945, to Vancouver, Winnipeg, Moose Jaw and back to Clinton in 1955. The RCAF was only the beginning and after 35 years retiring was not in the cards.
Clifford joined the Clinton Community Credit Union, with his wealth of knowledge he stayed for the next 20 years.
Still able to curl, garden and travel from coast to coast in Canada, all while buying and selling houses. His gardening was always his love as if it were a section of land in Saskatchewan. Never afraid to try out a new crop, whether it was asparagus or potatoes, he gave it his all.
He is the loving father of Gordon and Sandra, Georgetown, and David, Clinton. He loved his grandchildren and will be sadly missed by David ‘Davey’ and Dawn Parker, Clinton, Yvonne and Leon Bessie, London, Shannon and Michael DiRenzo, Georgetown, Sean and Darcy Parker, Burlington, Ryan and Bronwyn Parker, Milton. A great joy were all his great-grandchildren, Alice, Parker and Sadie DiRenzo, Sydney and Brooklyn Parker, Brynn and Keely Parker, Monica, Michael and Amanda Bessie and Kerry and Michelle Parker.
Clifford was the last of his family, predeceased by one brother, John (Ida), Kamloops, B.C., four sisters, Irene Anderson (Andreas), N.B., Arvilla, Saskatchewan, Lulu Hugo (Mark), Kamloops, B.C., Olive Ferrero (Albert), Ladysmith, B.C. Predeceased by one daughter-in-law, Claire Parker.
Friends will be received at the Falconer Funeral Homes Ltd., 153 High St., Clinton, Ont. Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Parish prayers will be held at the funeral home Sunday evening at 6:45 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peter’s Church, Goderich, Monday, June 25, 2012, at 11 a.m. Fr. Gary Ducharme will officiate, assisted by Fr. John Pluta and Fr. Paul Mooney. Interment Clinton Cemetery.
Donations to the charity of one’s choice would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
