Clifton (Cliff) M. Wood

Clifton Moreece Wood, age 83, of Apison, TN died today March 16th 2020 at home due to complications related to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

He was born September 28, 1936 in Rainsville, AL to parents James and Dorothy Wood.  He was a business man owning several businesses such as Handyman Construction and Cliff Wood Realty. He also owned a used car dealership.

Cliff was a good husband and father;  always a gentleman. A good provider, he was a man of “ways and means”.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara Trammell Wood; brother, Don Wood; and parents, James and Dorothy Wood.

Cliff was a veteran of the US Air Force.  He liked to garden and often made wine from fruit growing on his land.  He bowled until he was in his late 70’s and often scored turkeys.

He loved to dance and this is how he met his current wife Shirley.  Cliff loved to boogie board waves at the beach and taught his children to do so.  He hated sand and anyone who ever saw his legs in swim trunks knew he always wore jeans.

He like music and traveled with his late wife Barbara to many country and gospel shows.

Cliff liked to shoot pool and play poker.  He could whistle like a songbird and back up a 20 foot trailer without batting an eye.  He kept his pocket knives razor sharp and saved food in folded up napkins.

Cliff is survived by his wife, Shirley Wood and her children Michelle (Sam) Walker, Abingdon, VA, and Rick Prater, Rossville, GA; his children, Brian Wood, Apison, Sherri Bales, and Susan Wood, (Margo Paraska) all of Chattanooga; his grandchildren,Jeremy (Allie) Bales, Franklin, TN,  and Jonathan (Hannah) Bales, Ft. Oglethorpe, GA; sisters,  Ruth (Jack) Dunn,  LaBelle (Orville) Mayberry, both of Chickamauga, GA, many nieces, nephews and friends.

Graveside services will be held Thursday at 3:30 pm at Hamilton Memorial Gardens with Pastor Perry McAllister officating. Pallbearers will be Jonathan Bales, Jeremy Bales, Gene Mayberry, Freddie Cook, Margo Paraska, and Mack McCord.

Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share condolences to the family and view Cliff’s memorial tribute.

Due to the current health crisis, the family will have a brief visitation on Thursday from 1-3 pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.