Chester Clifford Risener

Chester Clifford Risener, lovingly known as "Cliff", 97, of Piggott, passed away Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010.

Cliff was born in Waveland, Ark., July 18, 1912, to Solomon Porter and Lula (Hood) Risener.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mildred (Eubanks) Risener; his parents; two sisters, Erma Ralaford and Lula Frye; three brothers, Herman, Outher and Joe Risener; three children, Doris Jean, Barbara and Jimmy; three granddaughters, Laurie, Shawna and Kellye, along with a host of friends.

He is survived by his four children, Charles and wife Michelle of Camdenton, Mo., Richard and wife Charlotte of Georgetown, Texas, Sandee Hughes and husband Robert of Cottonwood, Ariz., and Jerry and wife Carol of Culp Creek, Ore., as well as a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Warren Risener of Piggott; two sisters, Wilma Sample and husband Delbert of Nimmons, and Jean Larson of Albuquerque, N.M.; one sister-in-law, Georgia Risener of Park Hill, Mo., in addition to many nephews and nieces.

Cliff and Mil, as they were known by their family and friends, met and married Oct. 16, 1937. They had seven children, four of whom grew to adulthood. They also were involved in foster care and through that association helped raise another 300-plus children.

Not able to join the military, Cliff left Arkansas in 1943 to work in a shipyard in California, where he learned the art of welding. He was proud of the fact that he helped build the USS Sullivan, a ship named after five brothers who died when their ship was sunk in the Solomon Islands in 1942.

Cliff's travels included working as a farmer in Arkansas, a rancher in Arizona, a worker and welder for Southern Pacific in California and a saw mill worker in Oregon.

His wife of 59 years died in 1997 in Oregon, where they had lived for 28 years. In 2000, his children moved him to Murphy Health and Rehab Center, where he remained until his death.

Clifford lived long enough to see major changes in our society and culture. As a young boy working on farms in Arkansas and Mississippi, he ploughed with a team of mules and early steel wheeled tractors. As a man in his 30s, he helped researchers develop a cleaner way of picking cotton with a machine. His first car was a Ford model T. His last car was assisted by computers. When he was born, air travel was unheard of, now men are traveling to places out of this world.

Clifford was a man of many talents and skills, and will be remembered most for his work ethic and his love for his Lord. He and his wife were faithful members of the Church of Christ. He passed these things to his children with the hope of being remembered as a faithful man.

Clifford loved music. He played the guitar and harmonica, but his real talent was with the mandolin. As a young man he played on the local radio shows with a band made up of his uncle, brother and friends. Clifford and Mildred taught their children to love music and love one another. That heritage is being passed down to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the Murphy Health and Rehab Center for all the help and care they have gave Clifford during his 10-year stay. He was treated with love and dignity, and that has been appreciated. The family also offered their thanks to Legacy Hospice of North Arkansas, for their caring support up to his death.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, in the Hoggard and Sons Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those wishing to do so make a contribution to the Murphy Health and Rehab Center in Clifford's name. Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott was in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to sign the online guestbook may do so at www.hoggardfuneralhome.com