Marcia Ann Clifton

Services for Marcia Ann Clifton, 70, are set for 10:00 AM Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 at the Valley View United Methodist Church with the Reverends Cheryl Murphy, Vic Casad, and Larry Kruger presiding. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery under the direction of Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home of Gainesville, TX. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday, February 10, 2013 at the funeral home.

Marcia Clifton died on February 5, 2013 at 6:30 pm in Methodist Hospital Dallas, TX with her family at her side. She was born on Oct 21, 1942 in Muenster, TX to Samuel “JT” and Carrie Barker. She graduated as the valedictorian from Era High School in 1961 before marrying David Clifton in her parents’ home on January 23, 1965 in Hood, TX. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas Magna Cum Laude in Home Economics in 1964. She later received her PhD Cum Laude in Biochemistry in 1969, after which she worked for several laboratories including the USVA hospital and the U.S Department of Agriculture while her husband worked in the nuclear industry.

Marcia worked as a dietitian for the University of Michigan and later taught at NCTC. She worked many years for the State of Texas at the Denton State School for MHMR as a dietitian, from which she later retired. In recent years Marcia served as a substitute teacher for Valley View, Era and Gainesville schools. Otherwise, she helped manage their family ranch in Valley View. She was very active in the Valley View United Methodist Church serving on numerous committees and in the choir.

Marcia was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband David Sherman Clifton of Valley View and two children David Ashley Clifton (wife Elizabeth) of Valley View and Dabney Ann Swaidner (husband Major Scott Swaidner, serving in the Arabian Peninsula) of Woodbine. Also surviving is one granddaughter Payton Clifton.
Pallbearers will be Gary Don Fenley, Bradley Fenley, Dwayne Fenley, Billy Vann, Mike Mason, Jack Smith, Worth Gragg, and Scott Swaidner. (honorary pallbearers Jack Thayer & Jerry Flowers).

Memorial gifts can be made in her name to either the Valley View United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or the Era Methodist Church.