Clifford Donnally Hamaker, Sr., 84, of Tifton died Thursday, August 9, 2007, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His cousin, Doug Jones, will take his cremated remains, along with those of his faithful black Lab, “Buford”, to Greeneville, Tennessee and sprinkle them in the shadow of the Smoky Mountains, in the land that he loved and that his heart had always called home.
Mr. Hamaker was born on January 2, 1923 in Greeneville, Tennessee and was the son of Emmett Hamaker and Frances Madaline Dykes Hamaker, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Vaughn Adam Hamaker and one sister, Margaret Ann Hamaker. He was a retired industrial engineer and of the Baptist faith. He was also a member of Tifton Masonic Lodge #47 F&AM by way of Union Lodge of Strict Observance #5 F&AM in Detroit, Michigan and a member of the Lions Club of Tifton. He moved to Tifton seven years ago from Coppell, Texas.
Records indicate Cliff flew the Consolidated “PBY” Catalina flying boat in the Pacific during World War II. He graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Engineering with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering.
Mr. Hamaker is survived by one son, Clifford D. Hamaker, Jr. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; one daughter, Madaline Ford of Rockford, Illinois; and numerous grandchildren and cousins.