Clifton Edward Petty

Clifton Edward Petty age 71 of Deepwater, MO passed away February 10, 2012 at his home. Visitation, Monday. Feb.13, from 1-2 pm with funeral services at 2pm in the McGilley & George Funeral Home in Belton, MO; Burial in the Belton Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Clifton Edward Petty was born on July 17th, 1940, in Belton, Texas, to his mother, Beaulah Mae (Ballard) Petty, and father, George Petty. The oldest of three boys, he grew up in Austin and attended McCallum High School, where he met a pretty girl who became his wife. Together, he and Shirley raised three children and forged a long and prosperous life together. While Cliff did not attend college himself, it was important to him that the rest of his family be able to do so. To this end, he provided not just financial support, but took an active interest in their progress and accomplishments. He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Shirley; his sons Richard and Gary; his daughter Lisa Hunt; his mother Beulah; his brothers Steve and Dean; eight grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. He served in the U.S Army National Guard and was activated during the Cuban missile crisis. As a young man, he worked as a carpenter with his father, delivered bread, and installed rain gutters. Through his characteristic persistence and the frequent delivery of flowers to office receptionists, he finally secured a job interview, which led to employment, in his mid-twenties, with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a cable splicer's helper. He progressed in his career in the telecommunications industry, installing PBX telephone systems, and then, finally, exchanging that career path for new opportunities in telecommunications equipment sales. In 1987, Clifton helped in the formation and eventual great success of Special Product Company, a telecommunications engineering and marketing firm. Clifton enjoyed traveling, but especially sharing his love of Maui with family and friends. He studied photography to better document the island and ultimately commissioned painter Curtis Cost to capture the view from their condominium. He enjoyed cooking foods of all types, trading recipes, and preparing meals for friends, employees, and family. He shared his love of fishing by spending summer vacations on the Brazos River and later by sharing fly-in fishing trips deep into Canada. He and Shirley were season ticket holders with the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers, as well as New Theater for many years. Cliff and his family joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX where he was baptized in 1966. He raised his children in the Lutheran church, sending them to Christian day school at Austin Redeemer. Ultimately, Cliff joined Our Savior Lutheran Church, Harrisonville, MO and later served his Lord as head elder at Immanuel Lutheran in Ft. Worth, TX. He was born in his family's Belton, TX home, married in his in-law's Austin, TX home and passed away, according to his wishes, in his own home, overlooking Truman Lake in Deepwater, MO