Clifton G. McGuire Clif or Pete. Age 92, passed away Saturday, October 18, 2014 at KVH Hospital, Ellensburg, Washington. He was born July 17, 1922 on a farm in Williams, Minnesota to Gardner and Agnes McGuire. He was the sixth of nine children. Clif worked hard on the family farm with his parents and siblings throughout his youth. Clif graduated from the eighth grade on June 26th, 1936 in Baudette, MN. This would be all the education he would need to navigate his 92 years and many careers. In 1940, Clif met "the prettiest girl I’d ever seen," Ruby L. Routier at a barn dance and married her August 6th, 1941 in Minnesota. They would enjoy just over 50 wonderful years together. They raised a daughter and two sons. A man who would establish his independence early in life, Clif entered the work force at 15 years old in 1937, skidding pulpwood by horse. His next job was threshing wheat by horse for .25 cents an hour including room and board. He then spent several years servicing International Harvester tractors and combines for the Minnesota farm bureau. Clif was a blacksmith apprentice for a time, a job he thoroughly loved. Clif pushed west with his family and found work in the construction field and at Todd Shipyards as one of their top welders. In 1950, Clif moved his family to Sunnyside, WA. on the promise of learning body and fender work under the tutelage and mentorship of "Red" Bullis. Clif fell in love with the profession. Learning body and fender the old fashioned way, and as he loved to say, "worked the metal, pounding out dents”, he hated putty and shortcut work. Clif worked a short time with J.D. Colclasure in South Cle Elum, but found his niche at the Ford Garage/ McKnight Motors, spending 30 wonderful years with Benny Benjamin. A man of family and community, Clif was about giving and service. He was a South Cle Elum Volunteer Fire Department member proudly serving from 1956 thru 1987. This included serving as Fire Chief a few years. He built a garage at his home in the early 1970’s to do body work and paint jobs on the side after his eight hour job and eating supper. This wily old man did this to provide for his own retirement and provide the little extras he thought his family might want or need. Always willing to help out a friend or someone less fortunate, he always did work at discounted prices, many times not accepting payment at all for small jobs. Clif enjoyed TV, camping, playing cards, (especially cribbage), painting saw blades and giving them away to friends and family. He truly loved nature, woodcutting, hunting and fishing. Clif lived with a fierceness of independence and avidly fished daily (nearly) and hunted until his final days. Clif’s friendships were numerous, extraordinary and ferociously loyal. The family would like to especially acknowledge: The Tim Powell family, Robert & Judy Zuchowski, and Fred & Terry Steiner. Their rotation of near daily visits were always a blessing to Clif and his family. His home was filled with his artwork; wildlife painted on saws and doors, all done with car paint and no formal training. Once you met Clif, you and he were instant friends and he would regale you with his fascinating stories from his life experiences as well as showing off his most recent devices/ creations designed to make his or someone else’s life easier. He changed the course of many lives with his wisdom and time spent with family and friends. Clifton, a loving devoted son, brother, husband and father was preceded in death by his parents Gardner and Agnes. By his brothers: Ira, Mark and Ralph. By his sisters: Bernice, Beatrice, Laura and Edna. His brother Leon is his only surviving sibling. His beloved wife Ruby passed away in 1992. Clif is survived by his daughter Doris Tallman (Hubert) of Thorp. His son Ralph McGuire (Gwen) of South Cle Elum. His son Quinten McGuire (Melanie) of Olympia. Granddaughters are Rhonda Nickle (Rick) of Olympia, Laura Johnson (Lee) of Everett. Grandsons: Cory McGuire (Lory) of South Cle Elum, and Ryan McGuire (Susy) of Cle Elum. Great grandchildren: Regan Nickle, Randall Nickle, Rheas Nickle, Ethan Johnson, Cole Johnson, and Ruby Lane McGuire. Great, greatgrandsons: Seth Morris, Rhet Morris and Rylan Carner and numerous nieces and nephews.