Clifford Smith

Clifford Smith
LYFORD, TX.-
Clifford Leroy Smith of Lyford passed away on November 16th at the age of 70 after a lengthy illness.
He was born to Joyce and Lillian Smith on December 22, 1939 in San Juan. He was a graduate of Lyford High School in 1958 and a graduate of Texas A&M University, College Station in 1962. As a young 4-H member, Clifford exhibited four grand champion steers at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show in Mercedes.
Clifford farmed in the Los Coyotes area of Willacy County, working with his dad at the Los Coyotes Gin from the age of 13. He built a cotton gin in Ciudad Mante, Mexico, farming there and bringing cotton back to the US to gin. He organized the Lone Star State Tractor Pullers Association, conducting truck and tractor pulls throughout Texas. Clifford owned Agri-Shows, Inc. and conducted truck and tractor pulls in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentucky in the 70s and 80s.
Decidedly one to know his way around an engine, Clifford reveled in his mechanic skills and the ways in which he incorporated them in various designs and plans he put to work around the farm and gin over the years. He could recall from memory the extensive list of tractors and other equipment he used and knew in great detail. Clifford built several pulling tractors and sleds, and then took on the project of building the world's largest to-scale three-wheeler, Thunderous Cyclops, with the help of his son, Clifton, Joe Imel and others over a year and a half.
In 2008, Clifford wrote a book about his life that he titled A Multifaceted Gringo as a collection of memories of one man whose tales are deeply rooted in family history, an adventurous nature, and a mechanical mind. Each of his grandkids got a signed copy of the book for their keepsakes. Spurred on by the wide eyes and attentive ears of his grandchildren hanging on the lively details of some of his recounted stories, he took to paper and family albums with the support of his wife to compile a rich history of some of his most vivid memories of his life and his experiences. He intended for his retelling to live on beyond himself in the memories of his family, and it certainly has.
Clifford is survived by his amazing wife of 27 years, Sherian, of Sebastian, his son Clifton (Kari) Smith of Lyford, Claudette Brown of Victoria, Clarissa Hand of Lakeway, and Clarinda Smith of Houston. He is survived by his grandchildren Chelsea, Colton, and Caitlyn Smith and Kylie Goebel; Trevor and Trent Brown; and Heston and Macy Hand. He is survived by his mother Lillian Smith, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, and his four sisters, Jessica Ellis, Judy (Paul) Martin, Becky (Dwain) Harris, all of San Antonio, and Melanie (Steve) Krenek of Lyford, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Sherian would like to express a very sincere thank you to the people who took such good care of Clifford in recent years. Dr. Cecil Simmons, Dr. Juan Joel Garza, Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, Dr. Daniel Martinez, Dr. Jorge Flores, Dr. Brajesh Bhatla, the technicians of the dialysis units, U.S. Renal Care, of Harlingen and San Benito, and the caregivers of Odyssey Hospice have each played key roles in keeping Clifford's best interest at the forefront of their medical involvement.
A memorial service for Clifford will be held at the First Baptist Church in Combes, 11:00 AM, Friday, November 19, 2010 with the Rev. Bob Cole and Rev. Steve Wiest officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284-1125.
You are invited to leave a memory or condolence at www.buckashcraft.com.
Arrangements are with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
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