Clifton Eastin

June 23, 1929 - Oct. 14, 2018

Longtime Clay Center resident Clifton Eastin, 89, died Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, at Ridgewood Care Center, Seward. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, at the United Church of Christ in Clay Center, with Pastor Ethan Feistner officiating. Interment will follow at the Clay Center Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 1–8 p.m., at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the United Church of Christ in Clay Center, or the Clay Center Super Senior Center. Condolences may be left at www.mclaughlinchapel.com. Clifton was born to “Bill” Audrey A. and Elizabeth (Teichert) Eastin on June 23, 1929, along the Nebraska/Colorado border near Park Johnson Ranch, Venango, NE, the highest point of western Perkins County. Clif loved the farm, his horses and growing up in the rural Madrid, NE area. He married Betty Ann Colson on Dec. 30, 1951, and to this union six children were born. Clif was a traveler of many roads and byways throughout his life’s journey. His record of employment was diverse as he traveled from one side of the U.S. to the other, as well as into Mexico and Canada. After graduating from Madrid High School in 1947, he joined the Navy serving from 1947-49. He graduated from Basic Flight Training in 1948. Later he became a proud member of the Reserve National Guard. As a young man he drove cattle and became a hard-working farmer in western Nebraska. After marrying Betty, he became a police officer in Ogallala. Always using his hands to provide for his family, he became a feed salesman, blacksmith, elevator manager, welder for TRW, carpenter of numerous houses, apartments and eventually building the Twin Oaks Motel in Clay Center. He was a salesman at heart, selling life insurance and agricultural products in the latter years of his life. He worked a 20-year long career with Schlagel, Inc. Agricultural Products out of Cambridge, MN. Being a storyteller became a source of entertainment for all of his friends and family. Through the years he became a masterful conversationalist. Being an avid reader, Clif shared his knowledge, gift of words and skills while teaching Sunday school, sponsoring U.C.C. youth trips, leading 4-H groups and singing in the church choir wherever he was a resident. His interests were fishing with family, camping, gardening, painting, drinking coffee with his buddies, collecting tools and working in his shop where he found great comfort and purpose through the years. With his strong, large hands he ran his bobcat as a builder and renovator of community gathering places and centers, such as Clay Center’s United Church of Christ, The Super Senior Center, and being a local handyman for many community members. Many family and friends have been rewarded with stories to tell due to Clif being a part of each of their lives. He is survived by his brother, Jerry Eastin of Wahoo; brother and sister-in-law, John and Pat Eastin of Lincoln; daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Scott Miller of Clay Center; son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Kathy Eastin of Ankeny, IA; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Joe Mack of Lincoln; son and daughter-in-law, Darrell and Linda Eastin of Cordova, NE; daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Craig Ingram of Omaha; daughter-in-law, Laurie Westing Eastin of Clay Center; special sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jeannie and George Davis of Norway, SC; 17 grandchildren and 12 (soon-to-be 13) great-grandchildren, which were his pride and joy. Also surviving him were his nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jim Eastin; his wife, Betty; and most recently his eldest son, Michael Eastin.