Clifford Nickell

Clifford Wayne Nickell, son of the late Delbert and Elizabeth (Bolling) Nickell, was born March 19, 1939 in Browning, Missouri and departed this life November 29, 2019 at his home in Mountain Grove, Missouri. He was 80 years, 8 months, and 10 days of age.

While Clifford was born a native of northern Missouri, life took him down a different road and he ended up in southeastern Douglas County, Missouri. Clifford was converted and baptized. He met Verla (Elliott) Freeman and they were united in marriage on September 3, 1988. They resided most of their life together on a farm in Douglas County.

Clifford was a heavy equipment operator, being the best at his skill, regularly arriving an hour early to go to work. Operating the bulldozer was his life until retirement. He worked for several construction companies, most recently for Journagen Farms. Clifford was a mentor, the experienced one, the master. In dozing, if he thought the younger hands would be in harm’s way, he took on the job as he didn’t want anyone getting hurt.

Clifford was always known in the family as “the early bird.” If you planned to eat at five o’clock, you told him to be ready at six o’clock. He never was late for any given thing. Clifford was a man of his word, as were many of the old school people. He was a man on schedule and no change was allowed for any given reason. Timing was important to him. Due to a decline in his health, Clifford had recently relocated to Mountain Grove, Missouri and had only resided there for a few months.

Besides his parents, Clifford was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Nickell, two sisters, Clara Butler and Shirley Baker, one daughter, Millie Admire, and three infant children, Clifford Nickell Jr., Brenda Nickell, and Debra Nickell.

Survivors include his loving wife of 31 years, Verla Nickell, of the home, two step-daughters, Malisha Menefee of Vanzant, Missouri and Wendy Davis of Springfield, Missouri, three brothers, Donald Eugene Nickell of Kirksville, Missouri, James Nickell of Milan, Missouri, and Richard Nickell of Kirksville, Missouri, six grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss him greatly.

On behalf of the family we would like to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers. To Clifford’s family, we are so very sorry and would like to thank you all for sharing him with us. It has been a great privilege getting to know and love Cliff. He will be sadly missed.