Clifford John Shaner

Clifford John Shaner, age 93, went home to his heavenly family Tuesday, November 21st, 2023. He was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania to Dale and Lela Shaner and grew up on a farm where he helped his family and even cared for a herd of goats. After graduating from Riverview Elementary and Vandergrift High School, as a young man he worked for The G. C. Murphy Five & Dime Retail Store, followed by being hired as a bookkeeper for the Hawk Morrow Wood Pattern Shop.

Shortly thereafter, Cliff served two years in the reserves and enlisted in the Navy, achieving the level of third class petty officer. While stationed in Newport, Rhode Island, he attended store keeping school and later transferred to Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington, D.C. where he was honorably discharged in 1955.

From there Cliff worked multiple jobs while also working towards a Bachelors and then Masters of Commercial Science in Accounting at Strayers College in D.C. One of the highlights of his accounting career was working for the L. C. Smith Building Supply Co. in Alexandria, Virginia for 27 years, retiring as Office and Credit Manager in December 1988.

Cliff retired to south Florida and later moved to Pensacola, Florida where he married his wife Melinda Saunders.

Cliff was a man of many talents, as well as an accomplished water skier who enjoyed boating and flying his Cessna 172 and later, his Mooney 21. He was also a generous man who sought to aid those less fortunate whom he felt deserved a helping hand. He did this often without recognition or fan-fair. God truly broke the mold when he was born and he will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

Cliff is survived by his wife Melinda Saunders and various nieces and nephews back in Pennsylvania.

Special thanks to the members and staff of Emerald Coast Hospice, Right at Home, the doctors, nurses and aides of HCA West Florida Hospital sixth floor south, Dr. Mark Ryan, Dr. James Watkins, Dr. Jeff Wolters, Dr. Denby, and Juan Suarez, Lori and staff of Ascension Sacred Heart Speech Rehab.