Morton H. "Mort" CLOTFELTER

CLOTFELTER, Morton H. "Mort" 85, of 8495 E. Tiffany Drive in Tucson, was cleared for final takeoff Friday, December 9, 2016. A lifetime Navy Reservist and licensed private pilot, Mort slipped away after listening to the Secretary of the Navy appear on the Dan Patrick show. He is survived by daughter, Ann Clotfelter; son-in-law, Benny Flores of Tucson and daughter, Susan Clotfelter of Loveland, CO; granddaughter, Brooke Daniels of Gilbert, AZ; brother, Richard of Ocala, FL; many nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors. Wife, Beverly Jean (Shepherd) died in 2014; son, Mark Hugh died in infancy. Mort was born July 16, 1931 to Hugh and Quintine (Bunte) Clotfelter. He attended the University of Illinois where Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brother Vern Shepherd introduced him to his wife; they married in 1955 and the family lived mostly in Arlington Heights. In Illinois he and the family bred and showed boxers; he and his wife retired to Tucson in 1990. In Arizona he was active in the Navy League and on the Belle Vista HOA board. In Tucson, he owned Basenjis, but he never met a dog he didn't like. Mort was a loyal Cubs, Bears and Arizona Wildcats fan. He led an active social life, delivering bagels and lox to his neighbors every New Year. When asked how he was feeling, he would nearly always answer, "Better than I deserve." Services were held in private. Memorials may be made to the Navy League; Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society; or Southern Arizona Humane Society. Arrangements by DESERT ROSE HEATHER MORTUARY.