Our dear father, Clifton Vincent Johnson, was reunited with our beloved mother, Alice, whom he had greatly missed, on August 24, 2023. He was born on June 19,1938 to Charles and Anna Johnson in Lewiston, Maine, and grew up in South Paris. He enlisted at age 17 in the Army National Guard and graduated from Paris High School in 1956. He studied engineering at the University of Maine at Orono, before marrying his beautiful, red-headed sweetheart, Alice Mae Young, on Sept 2,1960. After excelling at a few civilian jobs, and with a growing family, he saw further career opportunities offered by the ME Army National Guard and enlisted full time. During his 43 years, he became a well-respected leader and was well known for his dedication, honor, and integrity. He was an administrative NCO and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. After serving 21 years, he transitioned to a new career field. Over the span of another 22-year period, he rose through the Warrant Officer ranks at Camp Keyes, and eventually achieved the distinction of becoming the first, highest ranking Chief Warrant Officer in the state of Maine, CW5. He received numerous awards and decorations, with the most prestigious being the Legion of Merit Award on Dec 10, 1998, for his exemplary service, extraordinary performance, and devotion to duty. Clifton was a man of many talents and hard work. If anyone had a project or problem, he was always eager to help. While an active family man, he was very involved with the Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church, and designed and drafted the wonderful addition to the church. "Grampie" will be remembered for supporting and encouraging all his children's and grandchildren's endeavors and successes with great enthusiasm. He attended numerous athletic events, concerts, dance recitals, and multiple school functions and graduations with love and pride. Clifton and Alice happily achieved their 60th wedding anniversary, prior to our mother's passing, after a courageous, six-year battle with cancer, on Dec 18, 2020. Clifton was also predeceased by his parents, Charles and Anna, and his younger brother, Gerald. He also dearly missed his much loved, brother-in-law and close friend, Linwood Allen, and his beloved niece, Andrea Allen, who passed previously. He is survived by his sister, Connie Allen, and her partner, Art Kenney of South Paris/Norway, ME, as well as his nephews, Scott Allen of Bedford, MA, and Todd Allen of Lee, NH. Clifton is survived by his 3 daughters, Carmen and husband, Randall Doiron, Bethany and husband, Shawn Gibson, Tracy and husband, Ken Burwood, and son, Arnold Johnson. He is also survived by his 8 grandchildren: Karalynn Gibson and husband, Steve Hood, Randy Marshall and wife, Abby, Michael Marshall, Spencer Gibson, Jacob Burwood and wife, Mary Beth, Alyza Burwood and husband, Jon Ronan, Gary Johnson, and Ashley Knudson and husband, Eric. He had seven great grandchildren as well: Lucas and Liam Marshall, Keegan Marshall, Chris and Izzy Burwood, and Charlotte and Jackson Burwood. We would like to thank the very kind, encouraging, loving, dedicated staff and residents of Goudreau's Retirement Inn in Winslow, for making Dad feel so comfortable, content, and supported over the last year. Thank you for making our family feel like your family. A private graveside service with full military honors will be held at a later date. Biography: Biography Our dear father, Clifton Vincent Johnson, was reunited with our beloved mother, Alice, whom he had greatly missed, on August 24, 2023. Born to Charles and Anna Johnson on June 19, 1938, Clifton had achieved much in his 85 years of life. As a youth, he was "the best big brother ever," to his sister, Connie. She recalls that he was very smart, and "started working when he was knee-high to a grasshopper!" Though five years older, Dad was always quick to include Connie in his many activities. She happily remembers his willingness to take her to the skating rink on many cold, winter nights. Connie also fondly recalls him being very protective, helpful, and kind. As a youth, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and learning automotive and woodshop skills with his father. He had great memories of building and racing a Soap Box Derby Car while in the Boy Scouts, and he also diligently worked to achieve the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. (And many years later, as a Boy Scout Leader, he helped his son, Arnold, build a Derby Car, too!) He joined the Maine Army National Guard at age 17 and graduated from Paris High School in 1956. After studying engineering at the University of Maine in Orono for two years, he married his beautiful, red-headed sweetheart, Alice Mae Young, on Sept 2,1960. They both worked at Alberti, Larochelle, and Hodson, an engineering firm in Lewiston, Maine - our mother as a secretary and Dad as an engineering assistant. After the birth of their first child in !961, Dad began working at Paris Manufacturing in South Paris, Maine. Soon after, and as his family continued to grow, he saw further career opportunities offered by the ME ANG. He decided to enlist full time, with the advice, encouragement, and assistance of his brother-in-law, "Woody" Linwood Allen, who served as an officer in the Guard. His achievements in the Guard were many. He joined the Maine Army National Guard in August of 1955, back when the state still had an armor unit. He enlisted as a private and began his military career as a tank crewman. After a period of time, the armor unit was changed to field artillery. Dad's background in engineering, surveying and math was put to good use as he was assigned to the Fire Direction Control (FDC) section, commonly referred to as "charts and darts" from the location pins stuck in a map board. An unpublicized account of Dad's math skills was demonstrated during one annual training live-fire exercise at Canadian Armed Forces Base (CAFB) Gagetown, Canada. While busy working on a different task within the FDC, and his back to the fire-control map, Dad overheard the fire-mission map coordinates as they were relayed from the radio operator to the fire-mission coordinator and the subsequent mathematical translation to gun instructions to the firing battery. Something didn't sound right to Dad and just moments before the order to fire was given, Dad shouted "CHECK FIRE!" A check fire command doesn't just stop a process, it's a safety stop that brings everything to a screeching halt, irrespective of any rank or position of anyone present. Dad suggested the gun translations be checked against the map coordinates. The results of this recheck revealed the guns of the battery were not pointed at the impact area, but instead, were pointed in the direction of an area with a civilian population close by. He had done the entire calculation in his head, preventing what could have been a significant tragedy. He also had the pleasure of working on a few bridge building projects with his brother-in-law, Woody, as he was a captain in the Engineering Unit. As Dad's career moved forward with the ME Guard, he obtained a fulltime position as an Administrative NCO and continued to progress through the enlisted ranks, eventually obtaining the rank of Master Seargent. And after what many would consider a complete career of 21 years as an enlisted member, Dad capitalized on the opportunity to transition into the Warrant Officer ranks and went off to Warrant Officer Candidate School. Returning to Maine as a WO1 or Warrant Officer 1, Dad began a career working in various administrative positions with the headquarters staff of the Maine Army National Guard at Camp Keyes in Augusta. Over the span of another 21-year period, he rose through the Warrant Officer ranks and eventually achieved the distinction of becoming the first, highest ranking Chief Warrant Officer in the state of Maine, CW5. In his final position with the Guard, Dad was responsible for all the administrative paperwork and record keeping for all the officers in the state of Maine for both the Army and Air National Guard. Dad became a well-respected leader and repository for a wealth of information. He was looked up to by the enlisted personnel and respected by the officers and was considered a person to go to in order to get the job done right the first time. He retired after serving 43 years and was well known for his dedication, honor, and integrity. He received numerous awards and decorations, with the most prestigious being the Legion of Merit Award on Dec 10, 1998, for his exemplary service, extraordinary performance, and devotion to duty. Dad was a man of many talents and hard work. If anyone had a project or problem, he was always eager to volunteer to help, whether family, friend, coworker, or stranger. His motto was: use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without! Dad will certainly be remembered for his advice, expertise, and his wisdom in trying to make the best of every situation. He also passed on his knowledge and expertise in electrical, automotive, building, and home repair to many family members and friends over the years. He was a skilled woodsman, and cleared and built his own family/ hunting camp in East Stoneham, Me, which we enjoyed for many years. Many of us enjoyed hiking, swimming at nearby Keewaydin Lake, cooking meals over the fireplace he built, minibike riding in the woods, and just "going to camp." One time, on a family hike up a nearby mountain, Dad suddenly leashed our two roaming dogs and insisted we all turn back down the trail. We children protested, as we wanted to reach the summit, but he told us to be very quiet and quickly do as we were told. Only upon our safe, sullen, silent return to our van, did Dad reveal that he had spotted a bear up ahead. Not wanting to panic us, he secretly got his pistol ready, and protectively escorted all of us downhill. Dad was always one to look ahead, attempt to advise and guide us, and to do so in a straightforward, practical, loving and generous manner, without drama or accolades. Thank you, Dad. While an active family man, he was very involved with the Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church, as well. He even drafted the wonderful addition to the church. The challenging design was worked and reworked, for it had to satisfy many needs: a seamless continuation to the historic structure, the creation of a choir rehearsal space with direct access to the upstairs choir loft, as well as space for classrooms, a pastoral office, and a new stairway. As a result, a plaque is dedicated to him in the church vestry, and many future church goers will continue to benefit from his hard work. At the end of February 2003, Dad fell off a roof while chopping ice. He was life- flighted to EMMC in Bangor that day, along with 2 other men, who had also, separately fallen off roofs in our state. The first died, the second was paralyzed. Dad had multiple injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, a shattered left shoulder and arm, numerous splintered ribs, and a bruised spleen, to name a few very serious concerns. During his 3 weeks in the ICU, he developed heart and urinary complications, as well as pneumonia. He nearly died twice, and we were advised to say goodbye to him. But our mother steadfastly refused both times, stating with firm belief that he was not going to die. She was right. Dad battled his way back over the course of his six-week hospital stay, learning to walk and regain physical and speaking skills again. Though he was told by doctors that he would never have the use of his left arm and shoulder, he spent much of that summer at their new camp on Sunflower Lane in Sidney, swimming 2-3 times daily. He loved being in the shallow, warm waters of Ward Pond, and worked diligently, until he successfully regained both strength and function on his left side. Dad also bravely faced and overcame many other health battles over the years. Family members referred to him as "the cat with 15 lives," for he had survived a heart attack at age 51, car accidents, several serious bouts of pneumonia, two back injuries and subsequent surgeries, and other hospitalization and health issues, as well. "Grampie" will be remembered for supporting and encouraging all his children's and grandchildren's endeavors and successes with great enthusiasm. He attended numerous athletic events, concerts, dance recitals, and multiple school functions and graduations with love and pride. Some of his favorite memories included taking his grandsons and their dads on 30-plus mile bike adventures, including the beautiful Schoodic Peninsula Trails in Acadia National Park, and through many areas of the White Mountains. He will also be happily remembered for enjoying ice cream, dark chocolate, fresh raspberries, Lay's Potato Chips, homemade apple pie, Mountain Dew, Grammie Anna's recipe for meatloaf with stewed tomatoes, Lucky Charms Cereal with milk, berries, and Cool Whip on top, M&M's, Hillman's pastries, chocolate covered cherries, and a cold beer on a hot night! Up until August of 2022, Dad was still quite active, driving, and fiercely independent. He was known to often be out mowing on his new tractor, cutting brush, hauling rocks, raking loads of gravel, and spent most days outdoors with tasks to doggedly complete. He truly loved being outside, with a rake in his gnarled, strong, leathered hands, a soaked sweatband on his wrinkled brow, and huge loads of gravel needing to be spread. He spent most of his time totally consumed by his efforts, silently absorbing the sun, and meditatively raking for hours. He took pleasure in the birds and deer, and the beauty of small, wondrous things. Dad was known to collect pretty or unusual rocks, old bottles, bird's nests and feathers, and other odd items discovered in his work, to share with our mother and family. He had often remarked that if he could come back and have a second life and vocation, he would return as a landscaper, build rock walls, and spend his entire life immersed in nature. Clifton and Alice happily achieved their 60th wedding anniversary, prior to our mother's passing, after a courageous, six-year battle with cancer, on Dec 18, 2020. Clifton was also predeceased by his parents, Charles and Anna, and his younger brother, Gerald. He also dearly missed his much loved, brother-in-law and close friend, Linwood Allen, and his beloved niece, Andrea Allen, who passed previously. He is survived by his sister, Connie Allen, and her partner, Art Kenney of South Paris/Norway, ME, as well as his nephews, Scott Allen of Bedford, MA, and Todd Allen of Lee, NH. Clifton is survived by his 3 daughters, Carmen and husband, Randall Doiron, of Jay, ME, Bethany and husband, Shawn Gibson, of Oakland, ME, Tracy and husband, Ken Burwood, of Oakland, ME, and son, Arnold Johnson, of Fairfield, ME. He is also survived by his 8 grandchildren: Karalynn Gibson and husband Steve Hood, Randy Marshall and wife Abby, Michael Marshall, Spencer Gibson, Jacob Burwood and wife, Mary Beth, Alyza Burwood and husband, Jon Ronan, Gary Johnson, and Ashley Knudson, and husband, Eric. He had seven great grandchildren as well: Lucas and Liam Marshall, Keegan Marshall, Chris and Izzy Burwood, and Charlotte and Jackson Burwood. We would like to thank the very kind, encouraging, loving, dedicated staff and residents of Goudreau's Retirement Inn in Winslow, for making Dad feel so comfortable, content, and supported over the last year. Words cannot express how meaningfully you impacted his life, from the healthy, delicious meals, to the fun exercise classes, and to the extreme care and compassion everyone demonstrated every day. Thank you for making our family feel like your family. Dad, may you dwell in God's presence with renewed joy, health and spirit. May you lovingly embrace Mom and be happily reunited with our many other departed loved ones. And may you spend eternity, peacefully and happily enjoying the gardens, lakes, forests, and streams and beauty of Heaven, until we are reunited with you once again. Love you, Dad. You are already missed.