Harley Clough

Harley Clough passed away July 3, 2025 after a century-long life filled with adventures, seafaring, fishing, family, dogs, and baseball.
Harley was born in Philadelphia, PA to Frances Harley and John Finley Clough on November 6, 1925. The arrival of the Great Depression early in his life caused his family to move often between Pennsylvania and the Eastern Shore of Maryland where both of his parents had grown up. His father died when Harley was 12, which caused the break-up of his family. He lived with cousins in Delaware until he was 14, when he was accepted at the McDonough School near Baltimore, which offered scholarships to "half orphans". After that he lived at McDonough until he graduated and was accepted into the Coast Guard Academy in 1943, where as a midshipman he spent summers cruising the Atlantic hunting for u boats. He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1947 and was transferred to San Francisco, CA. where he met his wife, Peggy Hughes. The two were married in May of 1948 and were married for 65 years. In 1954, shortly after the birth of their youngest son, Al, they were transferred to Juneau. Harley looked around and knew it was where he wanted to live, and he promptly bought his first boat.
Harley led an amazing life with his career in the Coast Guard, spending as much time at sea as he could manage. His duty stations covered both coasts of the United States, the Great Lakes area, and a Loran Station on Palawan in the Philippines, but Alaska was his greatest love. While serving on the Clover, out of Adak, he rode out the tsunami from the 1964 Alaska earthquake at sea and traveled on the Clover from the polar regions to Attu and almost everywhere in between. He helped remap the seabed of Prince William Sound after the earthquake and spent his last tour of duty in the Coast Guard in Juneau in charge of Aids to Navigation. After the Coast Guard, for 23 years he piloted cruise ships, lumber ships, and military ships all over Southeast Alaska, jumping from one moving ship to another and climbing a rope ladder, in all seasons and all kinds of weather. He was the survivor of 3 plane crashes, and 2 other near crashes. He spent his best times on his own Nordic Tug, the Sea Pilot, fishing with his wife Peggy, watching baseball, and spending time with his three grandchildren.
Harley was active in Masonic Lodge. He was a Past Master of Mt Juneau Lodge #147 and a Past District Deputy to the Grand Master. He was also active in the Juneau Shrine Club and Douglas Community United Methodist church. He served many years on the CBJ Docks and Harbors Board. He loved his house on Goldbelt and all the neighbors knew him from the walks around the neighborhood that he took with his various beloved dogs.
Harley was pre-deceased by his parents, his wife, Peggy, and his brother, John. He is survived by his three children, Helen Clough (Rollin Young), Laurie Clough (Cam Byrnes), and Al Clough (Jeffra), his nephew John Clough (Marian), his three grandchildren, Gordon Byrnes (Haben Girma), Forrest Clough (Dana Blackwell), and Wendy Byrnes (Colton Welch), his great niece, Megan Felts, her two children, Jackson and Grace, and his beloved dog, Cheery.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff at the Juneau Pioneer's Home for their enduring patience and kindness in helping Harley during the last three years. They put up with his independent nature and surrounded him with quality care, respect, and affection.
Harley has been laid to rest in the National Cemetery in Sitka next to his wife. A celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, August 23 at 3p.m. at the Douglas Community United Methodist Church. All are welcome to gather and share stories. No flowers, please. If you wish to make a donation in Harley's memory, please give to Juneau Animal Rescue, where most of his dogs came from to find their way to a cushy life with him.