Clifton E. Godfrey passed away peacefully at age 85 with his wife and sons surrounding him on August 26, 2024 at Mercy One Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He was born on December 29, 1938 in Bussey, Iowa to Clifton Sylvester and Florence Godfrey. His father came to an untimely death at the age of 19 due to a coal mining accident prior to Clifton’s birth. Clifton’s mother Florence soon after married Walter Clark. Through this marriage Clifton became the oldest of 4 children. After graduating high school he went on to earn his Bachelor of Science with a minor in Business Management from Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois. After graduating with honors, he moved to Chicago and pursued different career paths before settling in Des Moines, Iowa. Clifton would start his career at Bankers Life in the late 1960’s and retire from Principal Financial as a Senior Systems Analayst in 2001.
In 1968 Clifton would buy a family home on Ashwood Drive. After an extended courtship, Clifton married Marjorie A. Derry in Oskaloosa on January 30th, 1970. The 1970’s blessed the couple with three sons. They welcomed Christopher Wayne in August 1972, Clifton Westley in September 1974 and Clayton Wade in May 1976. The young family would prosper with unbound energy during the next few decades. While the boys were young Clifton would participate by being a Boy Scout leader which included going on numerous local and national scout trips with his boys, taking family road trips that often included him breaking out into silly songs, as well as chauffeuring his boys to multiple sporting events across the Midwest and being their biggest fan. His commanding presence helped to discipline the boys when needed, with some needing it more than others.
Clifton’s love for roses began when Marjorie bought him two rose bushes in the early 1970’s. In 1979 Clifton entered his first rose show and this began a lifelong passion. Once retired Clifton made time for his roses and made numerous friends when attending rose shows with Marjorie. If there was a rose show, rest assured that the Godfrey’s were there to help set up, present, promote, and expand the love of roses. Clifton also wrote the monthly Des Moines Rose Society newsletter as well as articles for other publications about growing and caring for roses. He entered and competed in district and local shows, including the Iowa State Fair, as well as judging for other districts spanning over five decades. His love for roses extends nationwide with family and friends taking cuttings, often referred to as “Clif’s Kids”, and creating their own rose gardens to continue his legacy. Clifton’s stability, routine and wise ways helped Marjorie take over the rose garden once Clifton was no longer able to prune, weed and put the roses to bed for the winter. In his later years, although his physical decline left him unable to continue to move around the garden, his mind stayed sharp, and he was a huge help with his knowledge of roses that he readily shared with anyone who asked. The roses will continue to sprout each spring, bloom in the sun and bring joy to all that pass by the family home, as well as the many other gardens that house “Clif’s Kids”.
To his wife he was Clifton. To his family he was Buddy. To his friends he was Clif. To his sons he was Dad To his grandchildren he was Papa. And to all of us he will be missed. Clifton is survived by his wife Marjorie, his three sons, Chris (Darcy) of Grimes, IA, Wes (Crystal) of Windsor, CO, and Clayton (Kendra) of Grimes, IA, his 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family for a public memorial bench in honor of Clifton.
Visitation
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Merle Hay Chapel
4400 Merle Hay Rd., Des Moines, IA 50310
Funeral Service - Burial to follow
11:00 AM
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Merle Hay Chapel
4400 Merle Hay Rd., Des Moines, IA 50310
