Clifford Lee Smith
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Funeral services for Clifford Lee Smith, 72, Lawrence, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 21, 2022, at Connect Church in Lawrence. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence, KS. Clifford passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022, at his home.
Per Douglas County and the family of Clifford Smith, masks are required to be worn at the funeral, visitation, and the burial.
Clifford was born on December 24, 1949, in Lawrence, KS, the son of Albert Clifford and Trula D. (Longacre) Smith.
He was a firefighter for the Lawrence Fire Department.
He married Virginia Cleek on February 28, 1970, in Lawrence, KS. She survives at the home.
Other survivors include his mother, Trula D. Smith, daughter, Rachel (John) Evans, brother, Lane Smith, sister, Dyla (Kevin) Lawrence, two grandchildren, Isaac, and Gabriel Evans, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Clifford was preceded in death by his father, Albert Clifford Smith, sister-in-law, Shelli Smith.
The family will greet friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 20, 2022, at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Memorial contributions may be made in Clifford’s name to Just Food or Connect Church Benevolence Fund, or Sunrise Project and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Dear Virginia, I’m so sorry for your loss. Clifford was such a gentle, caring, and true man of God. I loved seeing his page on Facebook. His uplifting posts and funny puns gave me a lot to think about. He will be dearly missed.
So very sorry for the loss of your husband. Prayers for your family during this sad time.
Dearest Friends what a shock! We are praying for you all during this difficult time. We have been friends for years and I feel your lose to a degree.
We love you Melody and Ray Parsons
Dearest Friends what a shock! We are praying for you all during this difficult time. We have been friends for years and I feel your lose to a degree.
We love you Melody and Ray Parsons
Virginia,
I am so sorry for your loss. May God bring you comfort and strength through the coming days. I will be praying for you all.
Thinking of you and your family. So sorry for your loss.
Virginia,
So sorry to hear about your husband’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Virginia, I’m very sorry for your loss. Clifford was a great guy, and it’s been nice knowing him and you all these years as we’ve been neighbors since I was a young kid. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Virginia and Rachel,
We are saddened to hear of Clifford’s (Smitty to us) passing. He was a Terrific Husband, Father, Grandfather, Son and Uncle to his family! A gentle soul and a terrific firefighter to boot!
May GOD Bless all of you and ease your pain with his ever lasting memories. We will always remember his contagious laughter that brought smiles to everyone he met!
So so sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers with you and all the Family.
Virginia And Rachel,
I met “Smitty” in 1978 and worked my first shift with him on the Lawrence Fire Department. Such a great guy and great Firefighter. He was the genuine article and such a warm hearted soul making you smile even in the hard times.
Bless You All
Virginia and Rachel, Cliff was such a fun God loving human being. There are so many memories from Holiday Hills. I remember the last two years have “pun offs” with Cliff on Facebook. But he truly was a man of God. He was welcomed into heaven’s gate, as a good and faithful servant. Love you all.
Sorry for your loss. Clifford was fun to work with.
Good man gone to young
Rachel
Mike and I are saddened to hear of your loss. Sending love your way
Virginia, I’m so sorry for your loss!!
Virginia, Rae, John, Isaac and Gabriel,
Harold and I were sad to hear of Cliffs passing. We rejoice though that he is now in the presence of God!! Cliff was a faithful man of God. We remember his silly jokes that would make you feel light and loved. We know that God would say to Cliff, “well done, my faith servant.” Yes, a servant. Prayers of comfort and peace to you all.
Virginia, I am so sorry for your loss, may God give you and your family comfort and peace during this difficult time. Hugs.
Virginia- so sorry for your loss, prayers for you and your family
Sending my condolences to you and your family, your new normal of life will take some getting used to, prayer for you!
So sorry for your loss. I have only fond memories of Cliff and its very sad to see he has passed. My deepest condolences Virginia and the rest of your family.
Virginia and family! I am so very sorry for the loss of Clifford! He was such a kind loving man! He will be missed by so many! I am praying for you all!
Shelly
Virginia , Rae and family
We mourn with you and will greatly miss his kindness and humor.
Will keep you In our prayers ❤️
Marc and Donita and family
Virginia,so sorry for your loss.
Virginia and family,
I am so sorry to hear of Cliff’s passing. Thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Joyce and Randy Smith
Ginny, Rachel and family. I’m sorry to hear of Cliff’s passing. Our prayers are with you and your families.
Deb and Tom
Dear Virginia so very sorry for your families loss ,you’ll be in my prayers
❤
Our condolences and prayers for you and your family.
With respect.
Peace be with you.
Virginia and Rachel, So sorry for you loss and ours. Smitty was a good friend and brother that I had recently just reconnected with. I’ll miss his posts and dearly regret not coming to see him after the current pandemic quieted down a bit. My thoughts and prayers are with you both and the rest of his family. God Bless.
So sorry to hear about the loss of “Smitty”. I had the opportunity to work with him at LFD, he was a gentleman and a friend. “Smitty” will be missed.
Nino & Colleen Mendoza.
Smithy; one of the truly Good Guys! Rest in piece brother!
I had the pleasure to work with “Smitty” for a few years prior to his retirement. Smitty left his impression on me as a upbeat Firefighter. He never ceased to make us laugh and smile, especially during CPR recertification.
Rest In Peace “Smitty”
To the Smith Family: I was saddened to learn of Clifford’s passing. I had the good pleasure of working with him briefly before his retirement from LFD. It is good to learn that he was not only a brother in fire but, most importantly, a brother in Christ. May you know the presence and comfort of the Lord in this difficult time and the comfort of knowing you will be reunited one day in eternity. Yours in Christ.
Ron and Susan Rushing
Virginia and Rachel so sorry for your loss Smitty was a great guy to work with. He always loved his family, and spoke of you often. He will definitely be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Smitty was a great guy, who took me under his wing and encouraged me when I started on the fire department. There were many memorable fires, but the station antics and conversations will be the enduring memories. We worked together at Station One for several years.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you Virginia and Rachel. He will be truly missed. Many memories of him and my dad telling jokes and laughing at church. Both had infectious laughs that carried throughout the church.
When you saw him with his family you could see the love he had for them. He was such a great family man, husband, and dad.
Love you Virginia and Rachel. May his happy memories comfort you and give you peace during this time of sorrow. Hold tight to the feeling that God gained another angel when Cliff left us..
My thoughts and prayers are with you Virginia. May you have peace and comfort knowing that Cliff has gone home.
Virginia,
Deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband.
Ronda Hunsinger Shepard
Virginia and Racheal,
I am so sorry I just found this out, I grew up with Racheal she was my best friend when we were little, Clifford was like a dad to me I will truly miss him. If you need anything please reach out to me.