GARTH LAUCHLAN GEORGE CLIFFORD

On April 30, 2016 at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont., Garth finished his earthly pilgrimage and went to be with his Lord and Saviour.
Garth was born in Dryden, Ont. on Dec. 16, 1938, the eldest of five boys and two girls.
At age 12, his father died suddenly while the family resided in Hornepayne, Ont. and it was a difficult time. Garth dropped out of school for a year to look after his baby sister who was only six months old. To put it in his own words, “We knew what it was to be poor, then we discovered poverty.”
His mother remarried three years later and free of that responsibility, Garth joined the Canadian Regular Army at age 16 to be a “Boy Soldier” and began a military career spanning 26 years, retiring as a captain.
It was a life he loved.
Garth’s faith journey was launched by a “Damascus Road” experience in 1970, which led him to later study theology at an Anglican Seminary, graduating in 1980.
Those 10 years were used by the Lord to remould Garth from a soldier for his country to a soldier for his Saviour. Although the military had plans to keep Garth as a chaplain, he felt the Lord calling him to go elsewhere and he began ministry in Northwestern Ontario—serving God faithfully with congregations in Atikokan and Fort Frances.
Forced to retire by the Anglican Church in Canada, he was led to the Free Methodist Church in Canada, where he felt God had placed him.
Garth had many gifts; he loved music and could play the piano, organ, and guitar without the knowledge of reading music. He wrote several songs of faith but always said the Lord did the dictating and he just wrote things down.
He was a gifted preacher and teacher who believed that only Jesus was to be lifted up. He lamented the state of much of the organized religion practised in North America.
In his youth, Garth was a very gifted and talented hockey player, and as a junior he became the property of the N.Y. Rangers. He often chuckled and said that up north he was just an average player; in southern Ontario he was above average.
Garth developed an interest in his roots and soon began the hobby of putting together a family tree. He learned of his maternal ancestry and was proud to call Moose Factory and Fort Albany the cradles of his infancy. He was shocked to learn how his people had been treated by some of the Europeans and fur traders.
He acquired his status card to honour the memory of his aboriginal grandfather, whom he only saw once in his life.
Garth was an avid hunter and fisherman, and loved the outdoors. But as age and failing health crept in, these activities ended.
His spirituality was rooted deeply in God’s creation. Garth loved dogs and came to love cats. His favourite breed were Golden Retrievers, and earlier in his life he trained one to championship level.
He loved all the dogs that had come into his life but “Raska” (black Lab), “Rocky” (English Setter cross), “Rufus” (Golden Retriever), and, finally, “Rusty” (also a Golden) captured a special place in his life.
His cats were numerous; any cat looking for a home just had to come into Garth’s vision and they were safe.
Garth was twice married, the father to Lori (Spence) Murray and Craig Clifford. His second marriage was to his soulmate, Diane, who continues this earthly trek, and he became a parent to David (Stephanie) Black and Rachel (Mark) Skinner.
Garth said the Lord had given him many projects but in terms of Diane, it was to ensure her happiness. He had a special home in his heart for their grandchildren, Josh and Matthew Skinner, and Sophia, Lila, and Caleb Black.
There were two families of which he was a part. There was his faith family and his genetic one. He loved both very deeply.
Sibling infants Allan and Janice died before Garth; as did his mother and step-father. His memory lives on in brothers, Garry (Phyllis), Dode (Marguerite), and Robert (Christine); and sister, Rhonda (Eric).
The earthly remains have been cremated and in due course, his ashes will be interred in Dryden in a plot beside his father’s grave.
A celebration of Garth’s life will be held Friday, May 6, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Devlin Hall, with his partner in life, Diane, and their faith family leading.
It was Garth’s wish that any in memoriam donations be directed to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Free Methodist Church, Fort Frances for their missions and outreach projects c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
What was life’s journey about? One of Garth’s many favourite passages from the scriptures was the following: “So that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:12