Curtis Ray Clifton

Curtis Ray Clifton passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2014 in Sacramento CA. Almost born in a covered wagon while traveling across Arkansas, Curtis entered this world September 27, 1921 Wilbarger County, near Vernon, Texas. He was one of 2 sons and 4 daughters born to the late Lettie Agnes (Estes) and James Thomas Clifton. Early years were spent in Texas where he acquired the Texas drawl that he never lost. Life was hard and food and money were scarce. They ate what they raised and there were stories of locust invasions, horses that plowed fields and were ridden to school. When Curtis was 14 years old the family packed up and went to California where jobs were waiting for them in the fields. They entered the southern California basin by way of the Cajon pass. On the way down that pass Lettie was crying. Curtis thought that she was scared the brakes would give out but she was crying about the $20.00 that flew out of her purse. At age 20 he joined the U.S. Navy after the attack at Pearl Harbor. His father, James Thomas, also went with him to join but was turned away due to his age. Curtis served in the South Pacific, Leyte Bay on the Seaplane Tender USS San Pablo AVP-30, the Air Craft Carrier USS Manila Bay CVE-61, and the USS Suwanee CVE-27, from 1942-1946, with a Highest Rank of Motor Machinist's Mate First Class. He would receive 6 medals during this time; WWII Victory Medal, American Area Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal (Two Stars), Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal (3 Stars) and the Presidential Unit Citation. Curtis was honorably discharged in 1946. He later received a government contract as a work boat injector repairman in the Marshall Islands for about 4 years during the Hydrogen Bomb testing program Operation Castle, where he witnessed Atomic Bomb Detonations, winter of 1954. Curtis also spent a few years working for the US Postal Service. Working in Hollywood he delivered mail to many movie stars meeting Kirk Douglas, Maureen O’Hara amongst others. It was during this time he would meet the lovely, Ana Lucia Velasquez. She had been in this country about a month, having come from Colombia to learn English and she was staying at the home of Mrs. Jones who lived next door to the Clifton’s home. Smitten immediately, he wanted to take pictures of her and he thought she was a model. It took him a year to convince her to marry him. They were married in Los Angeles February 18, 1956. In 1958 they moved into their brand new home in Buena Park California. And there they stayed to the end of their days. Curtis worked in the trailer refrigeration industry as a mechanic over 40 years for both Luckys Grocery Stores and Kraft. After retirement and after trying about a year of playing golf, always restless and full of ideas he decided he needed more to do. Even when working a full time job and taking on side jobs repairing cars he had enough energy to try starting various enterprises. One of those ideas was begun with a recipe for hand soap for the garage. He designed a machine to produce the soap. The idea didn’t make it out of our garage but we had the best soap for years! It was soft soap before soft-soap was ever available in stores. In 1985 he started a sign making business. He bought a hand operated printing press and made tags. From there he moved into computerized vinyl cutting, teaching himself as he progressed into evermore updated machinery. He loved his business. A true believer, everybody could benefit from signs to organize and inform. At various times over the years his children helped out with some of his jobs, and his son Ray spent the most time of all giving meaning to the name of Curtis’ business - CC and Sons. But mostly it was Curtis with his partner through life, Lucy. Year after year, thousands and thousands of signs and tags, so many letters and numbers peeled by Lucy to be assembled by Curtis. She was his spell check and wire twister. He loved to work, he needed to work. Even as his health failed and his eyesight grew weaker and the computer became harder to operate and his son Ray stepped in more and more to help, he never failed to check on the status of things in the business. In between all this work there was a lot of fun. There were trips to take when we were young with camping all over the western states, then later in life it was travels through Europe. There were dune buggies to ride and catamarans to sail, Hollywood Bowls, ballets, and theater, even some nude performances witnessed. All of it enjoyed and many times shared with family and friends. No family or friend was too far away to go visit. And no family or friend was denied if help was needed. Although the last few years were hard, especially after losing his best friend and the love of his life, Lucy in May 2012, Curtis never stopped. He got up every day and tried his best. He never stopped trying to do better. Curtis is survived by daughters, Sharon, and her husband, Fraser Thomas, of Jackson, WY; Irene, and her husband, Marcus Smith, of Pine Grove, CA; sons James, and his wife, Precious Clifton, of Victorville, CA; Ray Clifton, of Reno, NV; brother, Donald Clifton, of Temple City, CA; grandchildren, Curtis Clifton, James Clifton, Aliceson Clifton, Rochelle Clifton, Danica Clifton, Abigail Smith, Jonathan Smith, Cozmo Smith; great grandchildren Noah Clifton, Donald Coleman, Daisy Coleman. Friends and family are invited to attend a graveside service for both Curtis and Lucy Clifton at Riverside Veterans National Cemetery on March 21, 2014 at 10:45 am with a celebration of a life well lived at 1:00 pm at 6607 San Haroldo Way, Buena Park CA 90602. Lunch will be provided.