CLIFFORD RUSSELL

JOPLIN-Services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at Mason-Woodard Chapel in Joplin for Clifford Ray Russell, 74, Joplin, who died late Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, at the Joplin Gardens Nursing Center, following an illness. Brother Robert Hodson officiated. Burial was in Paradise Cemetery in Jasper.

He married Glenna Butcher on May 29, 1969 and she survives; Additional survivors include his mother, Margaret; three sons, David Russell and wife Brandi, Oronogo, Jimmy Russell and wife Janene, Joplin and Jacob Russell and fiance Kenna, Lamar; two daughters, Elaina Watkins and husband Alex, Joplin and Regina Tebow, Mt. Vernon; two brothers, Jack Russell, Joplin and Steve Russell, Rogers, Ark.; three sisters, Dixie Barila, Joplin, Karen Clingan, Webb City and Pat Anderson, Carl Junction and 10 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil, and a brother, Gene Russell.

Mr. Russell was born Feb. 17, 1942, in Joplin, to Cecil and Margaret (Lowe) Russell. He had been a lifetime area resident. He worked as a coal miner, a welder and taught vocational tech at the Lamar Area Vocational-Tech School in Lamar. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lamar. In his spare time he enjoyed being an auctioneer.

Whether as a welder, auctioneer, husband, father, grandpa or friend, he led a life dedicated to hard work and generosity, in which he reflected the selfless love of Christ in all he did. He also found joy in instilling these same values into his children.