C. Richard Clifton

Carl Richard Clifton, age 75, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, June 18 in DeLand, Florida with his wife Tanya at his side. Known to all as Richard, his children as Dad and Daddy, and to his grandchildren and great-grandchild as Papa, he was born at home in Pierson, Florida on July 31, 1941 to Bessie Carlisle Clifton and Carl Lucius Clifton. He was a graduate of Pierson High School in 1959. While in high school, he was proud to say he was on the Pierson High School baseball team. He would frequently recount stories with his family of his days playing baseball and was known to show his glove that he used while playing. Beginning his Junior year in high school, he began working at Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home in DeLand on the weekends. On the day of his high school graduation, he moved into the funeral home to work full-time until he left for mortuary school. He graduated from the John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science located in Nashville, Tennessee in 1965. Most recently, he recognized his 57th year working in the funeral business. Richard owned and operated the Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home in DeLand since 1971 with the assistance of Tanya. He considered it an honor and a privilege to serve the numerous families who personally contacted him over these many years to assist with funeral planning of loved ones. Many vacations and plans for days off were changed to be present for families in their time of need.
Richard and Tanya celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day. Meeting as teenagers, they were inseparable over the course of their many happy years together. After their marriage in 1964, Richard moved to Nashville to begin his mortuary schooling and Tanya followed upon her high school graduation that spring. Richard was a role-model for his children in the love and care he displayed for his wife, Tanya. He was her true partner in life and love until his final day on earth.
Although many people were familiar with Richard dressed formally in a suit and tie, he was a country-boy at heart. His great loves, other than his wife Tanya and family, were fishing and baseball. Many fishing trips both locally and in the Carolinas were planned with long-time friend, Ken Hoblick. Both Ken and Ginny Hoblick were the best of friends with Richard and Tanya. Trips to BassPro Shop with a meal either before or after were not an infrequent occurrence. He was an avid college sports fan, especially baseball, and would consistently cheer for the Florida Gators. He would jokingly say he would have to start the process of acknowledging his grandson, Benjamin, attended Florida State. The only professional team he followed avidly was the Los Angeles Dodgers. Richard was a life-long Dodgers fan going back to the days of the Brooklyn Dodgers
Richard was an active part of the DeLand Community. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of West Volusia and the later the DeLand Kiwanis Club. He was a past president and served as a chairman of the Kiwanis corn booth at the Volusia County Fair for 20 years. He was a former board member of the DeLand YMCA and a DeLand Little League coach. He was also a member of the DeLand Masonic Lodge NO.37 F&AM where he as a 32nd degree Mason, the Bahia Shrine Temple in Orlando, and the Lake Beresford Yacht Club. Both Tanya and Richard were members of the" Liars Table" at the Big Rig Restaurant in DeLand. There was never a time that Richard would go to the restaurant that he wasn't welcomed by a group of his friends. Many fish frys and community cook-outs were supported by Richard's cooking equipment and fish caught on local lakes and rivers. Of course, he always passed on the word to Tanya to bring her coconut cake and she would. Most recently he was a proud supporter of the DeLand High School baseball program.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Bessie and Carl. In addition to his wife Tanya, he is survived by his children Cassie Clifton Chandler and Carl Derek Clifton, son-in-law Albert Chandler, soon to be daughter- in- law Miki' Knowles, mother-in-law Gloria Blackwelder, sister Louise Babbitt of Georgetown, Florida, grandchildren Christina Clifton, Benjamin Chandler, Alexandra Chandler and Brooks Chandler, grandchildren of the heart Aurora Knowles and Bella Knowles and great-granddaughter Zoie. Extended loving family and numerous friends as well as his Allen-Summerhill Family.

Richard's family will receive friends Wednesday June 21, from 5-8 pm at the Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 11 am Thursday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Owen Strickland officiating. The committal service will follow at Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand with the Rev. Howard Cox, Richard's long time friend officiating. A reception will follow the committal service at the Life Enrichment Center at First United Methodist Church.

Online condolences can be left at Allensummerhill.Com. Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home DeLand is in charge of arrangements.