Clifford Halliday
Brighton |
Clifford Gene “Catfish” Halliday, 78, was born May 6, 1934 to Grover Cleveland and Mary Josephine (Douglas) Halliday at his grandparent’s home in Piasa, IL. After battling Parkinson’s disease for many years, he died at 12:40 pm July 7, 2012 at his home in Brighton surrounded by his loving family.
He married his wife of fifty-one years, the former Clara Margaret (Reif) Halliday on Feb 18, 1961 in the First Baptist Church in Carrollton, IL. Being an only child, he adopted Clara’s sibling’s ad his own and many special times were spent with them. Gene attended grade school in Shipman and Piasa. In April 1949, he graduated from the eighth grade in the Piasa Grade School. His father died during Gene’s senior year of high school. Gene then started working for Lahr’s Milk service and various farming jobs to support his mother while he finished school. He was very proud of his letter sweater and the letters and awards he had received playing basketball in high school. Gene graduated in 1953 from Shipman high School.
Upon graduation, Gene worked full time at Lahr’s Milk service until he joined the Army in November 1956. He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and a field radio repair course at the Army’s Southeastern Signal School at Fort Gordon, GA. He served a year in Germany. Upon his honorable discharge from service in November 1958, he opened his own radio and TV repair shop in Piasa. At 70 years of age he retired from Cope Plastic Company in Godfrey, IL after many years of employment there. Gene was an honorable lifetime member of the Tri-County Rod and Gun Club.
He enjoyed camping and traveling. He visited 45 of the 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska. He also had been to Canada, Mexico, Belgium, England and Germany. Gene loved to watch nature, playing cards, bowl and fish, but most of all he loved his wife, children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Clara, a son David Halliday of Bethalto and MS Gail Hughes of East Alton and a daughter Cathy and her husband Jacob Laramee of Brighton and two grandchildren Ryan and Morgan Laramee. He is preceded in death by his parents
VISITATION 5-8 pm Tues July 10, 2012 at Targhetta & Wooldridge F H in Brighton
SERVICES 10 am Wed July 11, 2012 at Targhetta & Wooldridge F H in Brighton OFFICIATING Mr Ethan Carnes
CEMETERY Shipman Cemetery with Full Military Honors by Alton VFW Post # 1308 Ritual Team
MEMORIALS St Paul United Methodist Church Youth Group (PLUGGED) Online information and guestbook may be found at targhettaandwooldridge.com
Anderson Family Funeral Home
