Clifford "Cliff" Dean Mann

Clifford Dean Mann, residing in Fulton, Texas, formally of Corpus Christi, entered the world on June 23, 1938, in Antlers, Oklahoma to parents Ethel (Sugg) and Troy Mann. Cliff was the fourth of six boys. After the family moved to the Rio Grande Valley, Cliff met his lifelong best friend and 6th “blood” brother, Don Kuykendall. The Mann boys were talented musicians; Cliff himself yodeled, sang, played guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica – on stage at times. However, he was quick to say, “I preferred to be on the dance floor with all the pretty ladies.”

One of those pretty ladies, Hazel Fipps, became his wife on September 10, 1960, in Pharr, Texas. Daughter Victoria was born in July 1963. Cliff and Hazel settled late 1960s in NW Corpus Christi, Annaville / Calallen area. Daughter Dena was born in September 1969. Cliff was always supportive of his daughters; their raising an array of backyard animals, participation in sports, band, Camp Fire Girls, and other activities. He liked to brag about bringing up girls who knew how to be tomboys that could bait their own fishing hooks. He was a Wildcat football fan – attending as many Friday night lights as possible.

Regarding school, Cliff left before graduating to assist with family support. His many positions included picking cotton, processing citrus in a packing shed, then learning the Refrigeration / AC business from one of Hazel’s uncles. Later, he became a driver for Preston Dairy Company, spending several years delivering dairy products to retail outlets in Corpus, and outlying towns. Mid-70s he hired on at Dia-Log Wireline Services, becoming one of their most highly respected and sought after Wireline Operators. Cliff was adept at placing dynamite charges to run perforation and back-off; freeing pipe from both land based and offshore rigs. He received several safety awards and a Commendation of Bravery for saving a rig worker’s life, pushing him out of the path of a collapsing stand of pipes. He also completed his GED, a proud accomplishment. Following medical retirement, he kept busy with small engine repairs.

Clifford was an active person. He loved the outdoors, camping, hiking, biking, nature. Many a summer family vacation was spent traveling in the Volkswagen Van, pursuing those activities and seeing the sites in Texas and other western states. In later years, he and Hazel traveled the country towing a Hi-Lo trailer, on trips that took them coast to coast. Cliff was an avid fisherman – wetting lines in both salt, and fresh waters in search of lunkers; always having a fish story to tell about the “one that got away”. He enjoyed panning for gold in clear mountain streams. He was a rockhound; continuously on the outlook for a shiny, sparkly stone, or one with an unusual shape. He was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and of most things Western, clothes, movies, books, and old-school music. He liked casinos and the one-armed bandits, and a friendly round of Texas Hold ‘em (penny ante). He kept his brain sharp with word search puzzles. Cliff was a builder of bird feeders, and houses; traditional, covered wagons, and tiny travel trailers. He created pretty beaded, jeweled earrings, bracelets and necklaces, selling some, and gifting others. A highlight of his builds was an invitation from the CC Botanical Gardens to construct close to 60 identical bird houses for a decorating competition. Clifford never met a stranger and could be quite the jokester.

Cliff had, through the years fought and won some big battles, heart disease, quadruple bypass, two back surgeries, acute Leukemia, and other maladies. In April 2024 a tumor was removed from his small intestine. The cancer returned weeks later and on September 19, 2024, at age 86, the cat with nine lives (as family would tease) was called to his final rest.

Cliff was preceded end of life by his parents, wife Hazel, older brothers Travis and Roger, younger brothers Leroy and Gerald, and best friend / brother Don. He bid goodbye to his beloved kitty Nosey in early 2023. He is survived by daughter Dena Mann, daughter Vicki (Mann) & husband Todd Hawthorne, and older brother Charles Mann.

Many thanks to Angela, Cliff’s in-home caretaker, and staff at Harbor Hospice (Portland) and Memory Gardens for their kindness in his final days. Immediate family ask other family and friends to have a glass of really sweet tea, or an orange soda – Cliff’s favorites - in his honor. May it bring a smile in remembrance of a good guy.

There are no services being held for Cliff at this time.