Clyde Lee Chambliss Sr.

Visitation will be at Ridout’s Prattville Chapel located at 347 East Main Street on Friday, March 25 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm followed by the funeral service at 1:00 pm. A private burial service will follow the funeral.

Mr. Chambliss is survived by two brothers Joe Allan Chambliss (Gerrie) and Benton Wadsworth Chambliss (Brenda); three children, Cheryl Chambliss Powell (Buddy), Clyde Chambliss, Jr. (Tara), and Janet Chambliss Duncan (Jeff); seven grandchildren, Tyler Ray (Emily), Meagan Ray Alderton (Jesse), Ethan Powell, Aaron Powell, Kristen Chambliss Harris (Cameron), Lauren Chambliss, and Madison Chambliss; and two great grandchildren, Waylon Ray (1) and Ava Harris (1); as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other relatives.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Patricia Wingard Chambliss; his father, Joseph Leo Chambliss and his mother Gladys Wadsworth Chambliss; two sisters, Sarah Chambliss Allen and Lessie Chambliss Creamer; and a brother Malcolm Colley Chambliss.

Clyde graduated from Autauga County High School in 1958 and enlisted in the United States Army. Upon separation from active duty, he worked with the Army Corps of Engineers in the construction of the test launch pad in Huntsville, Alabama, for the Saturn V rocket that delivered Apollo and the first humans to the moon. Clyde and Pat were married on August 26, 1966. The couple operated the family business, “The Chambliss Store,” and later ran other businesses including the Union 76 Station on Highway 31 at I-65, and a shoe shop in downtown Prattville. Later, Clyde worked swing shift at Union Camp Prattville Papermill until retirement.

He will be remembered for his faithfulness to His Lord through the church. He made church attendance a priority even when he worked the midnight-shift and get only a couple hours sleep before Sunday School. His children dared not claim “tired” as an excuse for not going to church!

His “fix anything” skills were invaluable at home and at work, but especially in service as a Trustee at Grace Baptist Church and later at Heritage Baptist Church. He was an ardent student of the Scriptures as evidenced by his worn and well-marked Bible. This same Bible survived a tornado in the early 1970’s that was a direct hit on the Union 76 station at I-65 and Highway 31. Clyde was also known to swap shifts, rearrange his schedule, or whatever he could do to attend functions for his children.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Smith Center, PO Box 681952, Prattville, AL 36068 in honor of Sarah Gladys Allen.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsprattvillechapel.com for the Chambliss family.