Roll Call Tribute

Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow obituary
201 W. Maple Street
Whitewright, TX 75491
PH: (903)364-2215
FAX: (903)364-2216

Clifton Alexander "Cliffy" Emerson
March 28, 1943 - June 19, 2019

Cliff Emerson went to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 following a long battle with Parkinson’s with Lewy Bodies.

Clifton Alexander Emerson, Jr. was born in Mineral Wells, Texas, to father Clifton Alexander Emerson and mother, Martha Jo Sears Emerson, on March 28, 1943. He attended school in Whitewright, Texas, graduating from High School in 1961. After High School, Cliff attended Texas A&M University in College Station and joined the Corps of Cadets. He studied for and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science in 1965. After College, Cliff joined the U.S. Army and served for 2 years eight months which included duty in Korea with 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment. He attained the rank of Captain.

In 1968, Cliff decided to spend time visiting Australia. He had researched and read about the country and wanted to go there to “check it out”!! While there, he accepted the position of Cattle Manager on a very large American-owned cattle Station in the Northern Territory. In 1972 his future wife, Gail Mahoney, who had spent several years teaching in the southern state of Victoria, decided to apply for the advertised position of a qualified teacher needed to teach the children of the station employees. She was subsequently hired and was soon on her way to experience an adventure she could not have envisaged! Cliff and Gail married on the property on July 8, 1972. In 1973, Cliff and Gail came to the U.S.A. as Cliff decided to study for his Master of Agriculture at his Alma Mater, Texas A&M. Their son, Christopher, was born at Wilson N Jones Hospital in Sherman, Texas, January 7th 1974.

In 1978 the Emerson family returned to Australia when the same American-owned company offered Cliff the position of General Manager. During his tenure there, Cliff was recognized and respected for his management and leadership skills, as well as strong organizational skills and work ethic. It was not long before he was chosen to take on the huge responsibility of becoming the Director of the Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association where he espoused the needs and interests of cattlemen throughout the whole of the Northern Territory! While in this position he was often praised for his unique ability to communicate effectively within the large agricultural environment in the northern part of Australia, and relate effectively with property owners and their staff, politicians and even the news media!

Cliff and family returned to the United States in 1990 and Cliff studied for his real estate license. He eventually partnered with local real estate broker, Bruce Roberts, to establish Bois D’Arc Realty in Whitewright. He was an active member of the Whitewright Chamber of Commerce. He has received the Citizen of the Year award.

In 2009 Cliff was diagnosed with Parkinson’s with Lewy Bodies, a debilitating disease of the brain. His health slowly deteriorated during the next decade.

Cliff was loved and respected so much, especially by his family, his friends from his school days in Whitewright and Texas A&M, Army buddies in Korea, and so many close acquaintances he made within the rural industry in Australia who still express their regret that he returned to his homeland!!

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents; brother James "Jim" Michael Emerson; maternal grandparents “Red” Tom Sears and Mable Jones Sears; uncle Thomas Sears and aunt Tommie Sears; cousins Tom Sears Jr, and Sandra Braly; and paternal grandparents.

He is survived by his wife Gail, his son Chris, his daughter-in-law Jodi, and his five beautiful grandchildren, Katelyn, Isabel, Julianna, Samantha and Levi! Also, his niece Emily and great nephew Kai; his nephew Ethan Emerson and his wife Vanessa; 2nd cousin Christi Sears Herrington and husband James, and their children River Belle and Hunter; his cousins on his father’s side, Anne Clinkenbeard and husband Stan; Anne’s children Courtney Hanson and daughter Veda; Sydney McClintic and husband Mike, and their daughter Kameron; cousin Jane Shettle and husband Aubyn, and cousin Fitzhugh Newsome and wife Tina.

There will be a graveside service at 4 P.M. on Thursday June 27th at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright. Pastor David Bradley from First Baptist of Whitewright, will be officiating, with son Chris presenting the eulogy.

Memorials may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, www.lbda.org/donate and the Association of Former Students Texas A&M, www.aggienetwork.com/memorial in memory of Clifton A. Emerson Class of '65.


Graveside Service
Thursday, June 20, 2019
4:00 pm

Interment
Oak Hill Cemetery
FM 898
Whitewright, TX 75491


Memorial Donations
Memorials may be made to the

Lewy Body Dementia Association

and

In memory of

Clifton A. Emerson Class of '65

Association of Former Students
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Published in The (Sherman-Denison) Herald Democrat on June 23, 2019

Clifton Alexander "Cliff" Emerson(1943 - 2019)
WHITEWRIGHT – Clifton Alexander "Cliff" Emerson, of Whitewright, died Wednesday at his home in Whitewright.
Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday at Oak Hill Cemetery, Whitewright, Texas. Pastor Dave Bradley and Chris Emerson will officiate.
Arrangements are with Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, Whitewright, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, Gail Emerson; son, Chris Emerson; and five grandchildren.


Funeral Home
Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow's Earnheart FH
201 W Maple St Whitewright, TX 75491
(903) 364-2215