John Eugene Clifton, age 86, of Jellico

John Eugene Clifton, age 86, of Jellico, Tennessee, entered into eternal rest late Friday night, August 30, 2024, at the Beech Tree Manor Post Acute and Rehabilitation Center in Jellico, after a long period of declining health, surrounded by his family.

He was born on January 25, 1938, to the late Clyde Harvey Clifton and Anna Mae (Kasee) Clifton in Jellico.  He was the grandson of the late Harvey Clifton and Molly Clifton and the late John Kasee and Mary Kasee. 

He attended Jellico Elementary School and Jellico High School where he was graduated at the top of his Class of 1956.  

Shortly thereafter, he enrolled at Cumberland College, but before finishing, he was drafted into the United States Army where he proudly served our country for five years.  After his discharge from the U. S. Army, he joined the Tennessee National Guard Reserve from which he retired after 11 years of dedicated service.

Ultimately, he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Cumberland College.  Later, he finished a Master of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.  He also did post-graduate work at Union College where he later taught classes.   

It was during his time at UT that he worked with Coach Bill Battle and became very closely associated with UT Athletics – particularly the football program.  He always looked forward to the time of year when the words from the loudspeakers would proclaim, “It’s football time in Tennessee!”  For years, he attended every UT football game possible and often took some of the grandchildren with him.  Needless to say, the UT Volunteers unofficial, but much beloved “fight” song, “Rocky Top,” was music to his ears….

Mr. Clifton was employed by the Campbell County School System from the mid 1960’s until his retirement in 1995 where he served mostly as Jellico High School Principal.  He also served as the Jellico Elementary School Principal for three years.

During his “retirement,” he was hired by the Whitley County Board of Education to be the Boston Elementary School Principal, and later, the Whitley East Elementary School Principal, which was formerly known as Poplar Creek Elementary.  Additionally, he was elected Mayor of Jellico in 1998, where he served two terms and worked for the advancement of our beloved town.

“Mr. Clifton,” as he was affectionately known to countless students, also worked tirelessly for better conditions and opportunities not only the students who were served by the Jellico area schools, but also for the teachers, staff and others who were involved in the delivery of higher education and athletics to the greater Jellico area.

Anyone who knew Mr. Clifton could attest that he was blessed to have acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of just about any subject that one could imagine.  In addition, he was very loyal, patriotic, and civic-minded.  

Mr. Clifton was one of the founders of the Jellico High School Alumni Association which has held annual homecomings at Jellico High School every year since its beginning in 1986.  He was a Jellico High School Alumni Association Honoree a few years ago.  Also, the Jellico High School Gymnasium Floor was dedicated in his honor several years ago.

He also proudly served on the Jellico Area Veterans Committee that lead the effort to design and purchase the very impressive Veterans Memorial, which now stands in the Jellico Veterans Park.

He was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Jellico.

Mr. Clifton led an admirable life.  Many good things could be said of him.  He chose to rise above life’s challenges in an effort to be of service to his hometown – and his country.  Perhaps the encouraging words that Mr. Clifton was known to have said to at least one admiring and appreciative student could be used to characterize succinctly Mr. Clifton himself, “He was a scholar and a gentleman – and those were his ‘weak’ points….”

In addition to his parents and grandparents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Clarence Clifton, and two sisters, Mary Margaret (Clifton) Elswick and Wilma Sue (Clifton) Rogers; infant sister and brother, Betty Jean and Harry Lee; and grandson, Fisher Wayne Barton.

He is survived by his beloved wife of more than 20 years, Jenny Ruth (Bryant) Clifton, of Jellico; daughter, Kasee (Clifton) Laster, and husband, Jonathan, and two granddaughters, Georgia Laster and Julia Laster, all of Statham, Georgia; two nieces, Jamie Sue Jarvis, of Westchester, Ohio, and Lisa (Brown) Spence, and husband, Troy, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and nephew, Benny Brown, and wife, Sharon, of Cincinnati.

Mr. Clifton is also survived by two step-daughters, Kimberly (Maiden) Bryant, of Knoxville, TN and Deana Rae (Maiden) Barton, and husband, Wayne, of the High Cliff Community of Jellico; five step-grandchildren, Michael Ray Culver, and wife, Aubren, Jeni Ann (Culver) Keene, and husband, Josh, Ashli Culver, Raeanne (Barton) Hinkle, and husband, Justin, and Grace (Barton) Rountree, and husband, Corey; four step great-grandchildren, brother-in-law, Keith Silvey, and wife, Suzanne, of Silver Lake, OH; his beloved and devoted Labrador, Buttercup, aka “Geraldine” and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; countless former students, numerous colleagues, and a host of friends, neighbors, and other relatives to mourn his passing.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday afternoon, September 4, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Jellico.

The funeral will immediately follow on Wednesday evening, September 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Jellico with Dr. Bob Dunston and Rev. E. Wayne Barton, II, officiating.  Music will be provided by Dr. Jeff Smoak and Mrs. Betty Hurst.

Military Graveside Honors will be conducted by the Jellico Honor Guard on Thursday morning, September 5, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Jellico Cemetery.

Interment will immediately follow.

Pallbearers will be Danny “Dino” Oakes, Mike Reynolds, David Miller, Michael Ray Culver, Mike Culver, Wayne Barton and Jonathan Laster.  Honorary pallbearer will be Bobby Teague.

Cox & Son Funeral Home of Jellico is in charge of all arrangements.

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