Great guy and square dance friend..loved them both...  

Pat and Jackie have been our dearest friends for 45 year ... all the memories of square dancing together, camping, vacations, visiting, always having fun at the cottage at Horsehead Lake ... all the wonderful times we spent together.  Pat was Mr. Fantastic' in all ways ... always positive and smiling. We will miss him so much but know he is in a better place and probably teaching the angles to square dance.  Our sincerest sympathy to Jackie, Kevin, Colleen, Patrick and Mike and all the family.
Dick and Carol French

We will miss PAT and had the pleasure of knowing him for many years.

The Fantastic Life of a Great Man
Eulogy of Patrick Clifford, written by his son

 Next to his faith in God, the most important thing in my Dads life was his family; my Mom who was the love of his life, his kids, grandkids, great grandkids, brothers, and sisters. One of the ways he made life better for all of us and left his fingerprint on our lives was through the use of what I like to call his Dadisms; quotes, poems, or sayings that inspired him.  One quote my father loved was: 

Sing like no one is listening
Love like youve never been hurt
Dance like nobody is watching and
Live like its heaven on earth

We witnessed a good example of this whenever we would go out with my parents. Regardless of where we were, if a nice song came on, my Dad would take my Mom in his arms, spin her, and dance all around. As always, he was living life to the fullest and loving my mother.

Another favorite Dadism is a poem he came across a few years ago entitled Attitude. I think it really resonated with him because it described the life he had always tried to live

ATTITUDE
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say, or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break, a company a church a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day; regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

These words helped Dad re-confirm his life philosophy and he shared them with everyone he could. 

 My father loved people and loved life, and he made an impact on more people than any of us will ever know. I believe there is one word that embodied Dads thoughts about attitude and that is the word FANTASTIC. In the dictionary, fantastic is defined as incredibly great. Anytime someone would ask my Dad how he was doing he would say, in a very enthusiastic way, FANTASTIC. There were times when Dad truly did feel incredibly great or Fantastic but also times when he absolutely did not. The day before Dad died, while on his death bed in a lot of pain and struggling to breath, His doctor asked how he was doing. His reply was a faint Fantastic. The doctor gave a sympathetic smile knowing how difficult it was for my dad to even speak the words. I dont think that doctor knew Dad well enough to understand how He could possibly feel incredibly great, given his condition.   
I believe the true message to my Dads doctor, as well as the rest of us, is that life can still be incredibly great regardless of our circumstances that life is a special gift to be cherished in both good times and bad.

Maya Angelou once said:
People will forget what you said and
people will forget what you did
but people will never forget
how you made them feel

My father had a way to make people feel Incredibly Great. He has touched more lives, and will be remembered by, more people then we will ever know.

It is said that those who have touched you leave an everlasting imprint on your beating heart and shining soul; an impression very much like that of a fingerprint. And our fingerprints will never fade from the lives weve touched. While we are all sad, and grieving about my fathers death I know he would want us to all feel Incredibly Great in our own lives, and about the time that we shared with Dadand to know that for all eternity he will truly feelFantastic!


The Clifford  Family 
I met Pat & Jackie last  year in St.Clair Shores Mi. and what an honor and privilege to meet them both.  In spite of his physical challenges, they both were so positive and uplifiting.  Our love, thoughts and prayers are with the family during this time. Keep on smiling.

Be Blessed
Elecia & Shawn Winston

I had the privilege  of meeting Pat last year in St. Clair Shores Mi, and in spite of his physical challenger he was So upbeat and positive, which kept he and Jackie going. Praying for you and the Family always in our prayers.  Keep on smiling and Be Blessed 

Elecia & Shawn Winston


My sympathy and prayers to the Clifford Family.  
May Pat Rest In Peace.

If you can HUG and CLOG at the same time Pat is doing both now.God bless!

I was honored to have been a guest to a Clifford family wedding last year. Pat was so happy and gracious and welcomeing. He immediately made me feel at ease. So much so that he said I was no longer a plus one guest but now a member of his family.  He was also the first one on the dance floor and the last to leave the dance floor. Pat LOVED life his family- especially his beautiful wife Jackie and above all his faith that never waivered. It was a blessing to know him and I hope he's laughing and dancing right now.

I was honored to be included as a guest to a family wedding last year in Petosky.  Pat immediately welcomed me and honored me by saying I was no longer a plus one guest but family and included in all future events. He also was the first person on the dance floor and last to leave. He LOVED life family especially his beautiful wife Jackie parties and above all his faith.  What a roll model - what an inspiration. Hard to think of you without smiling

In our bag of cousins, Pat was one of the bright shining jewels. I always looked up to him as a strong Pillar in our family.. Pat will always be remembered as such a loving careing person. I have so many good memories of Him that I will tuck in my heart forever. I thank God for letting us share Pats time on earth  with our family. We were truly blessed . love you Pat....you will always be remembered.
A great man....Patrick Clifford.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

I will miss my big brother, talking with him and hearing his fantastic outlook on life, never complaining about his struggles.  Always praying for my husband and me.  His faith was stronger than anyone I know, along with his wife Jackie.   
Pat will be forever in my heart.  
Love you!  
Marie and Greg.

OBITUARY

Patrick Joseph Clifford

May 14, 1937 – August 17, 2017

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