Clyde E. Clippard, 88, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, at the Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born March 24, 1929, in Oak Ridge to Seibert "Hartle" and Loretta Maud Delph Clippard. He and Hazel Ruth Thompson were married July 31, 1949, at New Bethel Baptist Church near Neelys Landing. They had been married nearly 61 years when Hazel passed away July 19, 2010.

Clyde was a corporal in the U.S. Army, serving honorably from June 12, 1951, to May 22, 1953, during the Korean War.

He was a plumber and pipefitter with Local 562 in St. Louis and a 61-year member of the United Association.

Clyde was a former member of Bethany Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, where he became an ordained deacon. He later moved his membership to Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, serving as a deacon and greeter.

He was a 67-year Mason, most recently with the Harold O. Grauel Lodge No. 672 in Cape Girardeau; a member of OES Cape Rock Chapter No. 60 in Cape Girardeau; and a 32nd-degree Mason member with the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis.

Clyde enjoyed being outdoors, but was happiest while enjoying it with his grandchildren. He liked taking them on road trips to see "God's country," while reminiscing about life's experiences and talking about the years he spent in Oak Ridge and Brosley, Missouri. When they were teenagers, he mowed yards with them.

Loving survivors include two daughters, Gay Kathleen (Thomas) Lee of Cape Girardeau and Joy Denise (Don) McQuay of Jackson; six grandchildren, Jeremiah (Stephanie) Lee, Joshua (Brittney) Lee, Joseph (Leslie) Hoover, Jonathan Hoover, Joanna Lee (Nathan) Sides and Shaelyne McQuay (Kyle) Meadows; and 14 great-grandchildren, Tatum, Quinton and Bryson Lee, Sophia Sides, Halle, Chace, Violet and Coraline Hoover, Liam, Jovie and Warren Meadows, Graydon Haley-LeDure, Carlie Estes and Emile Rhyne.

He was preceded in death by his wife and an infant brother, Hartle Leon Clippard.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Kevin Coffee officiating. Burial and military honors will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Lynwood Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family online by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.