Clifford 'Cliff' Gillard, 88

Clifford “Cliff” Gillard passed away on Feb 9, 2014, to be with the love of his life, “Little Jo,” in heaven.

Services will be held on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. at the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home with private interment in the Grandview Cemetery, Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Cliff was adopted as an infant by Frank and Georgie Gillard and raised on their dairy farm at Cow Creek. He was born on March 30, 1925. He loved living there with them and his uncle Tom. He loved to fish the three creeks that were on the farm.

Every time he would tell his fishing stories the number and size of the fish grew (of course). His parents spoiled him even during the hard times and he took great delight being known around town as “that spoiled Gillard kid.”

He met his future wife, Martha Lee Caughey “little Jo,” in his sophomore year of high school.

They married on June 1, 1943, and enjoyed 68 years of marriage. They had a great time together motorcycling, camping, boating and traveling down as many roads as they could find.

He built a boat for water skiing, and they loved to take the family to Herman Lake.

In fact, it was here that Clifford proposed to Jo and that was the beginning of a beautiful life together. They loved to square dance, and it was there they met their lifelong friends Madge and Don Roberts, Betty and Lee Galbraith, and Ray and Erma Merrifield.

Cliff and Jo started Kootenai Kustom Body Shop in 1958 and worked together there until they retired in 1985.

Cliff had so much fun with Jo taking on the impossible wrecks and restoring them to better than new.

It still amazes his family that he learned to do body work through a correspondence course.

Cliff loved the water, be it water skiing, snorkeling in Hawaii, or even attacking the water slide parks.

He rode the biggest slide at Silverwood at age 80 much to Jo’s dismay. He was the “ultimate kid.” He lived every day of his life to the fullest, always looking for adventure and finding the fun in everything he did.

After they retired they traveled in the motorhome, rode motorcycles, square danced and enjoyed their family, grandkids and great grandkids.

Cliff and Jo moved to “the coast” four years ago to a senior retirement facility.

He excelled at winning bingo daily and Wii bowling. One of his favorite things to do was to read the Bonners Ferry Herald and check the obituaries to see who he had out lived. His family always told him that all of the paint and lacquer thinner he came in contact with in the body shop was the key to his longevity.

Well Dad, we are happy for you today as you are finally back in Bonners, you and Mom are together again, and you FINALLY made the paper! We love you, and we’ll miss you both forever.

The family request that memorials be sent to the Senior Center.

Family and friends are invited to sign Cliff’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.