Clifford H. Haskell

Colrain, Massachusetts
Clifford Henry Haskell, 89, of 252 East Colrain Road, died Thursday, September 25, 2014 at the home of his daughter Naomi S. Haskell (who with her daughter, Danielle, were his caregivers) following a period of declining health.  He was born in Ballston Spa, NY, on August 21, 1925, to William H. and Bessie (Carey) Haskell and later moved with his family to Leyden, MA, where he attended local public schools.   
 
He enlisted in the USN in August of 1945, serving honorably until August of 1946 and attained the rate of Seaman 1^st Class.  He was a member of the USN Boxing team during his enlistment.  He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal. 
 
Prior to his military service, he worked for Edric Koch who owned and operated a slaughter house in Leyden, MA.  Mr. Koch took him under his wing and taught him the skills to become a butcher.  Clifford later worked for the former Ruggeri’s Cold Locker Plant in Greenfield, MA and for Streeter’s Store and Slaughterhouse in Bernardston, MA.  He later worked for Albert LaValley of Bernardston, MA, as the waste food collector for the Town of Greenfield and custom farmed fields in partnership with Joseph Williams of Gill, MA for several years. Clifford retired from I. Kramer & Sons, Greenfield, MA, where he was a shredder operator for their metal recycling operation.  He was also in high demand by local hunters during the annual season for his butcher skills in dressing deer.  
 
 Clifford was a cat lover and leaves his devoted felines “Pug” and “Isis”. He enjoyed country western music, vegetable and flower gardening, working and landscaping around his home, hunting and the out of doors, fly fishing and was a fan of boxing.     
 
He married the former Pauline A. Berthiaume on December 3, 1955 in the former St. Anne’s Church in Turners Falls, MA.  They celebrated nearly 51 years of marriage together, prior to her passing on April 1, 2006.  He leaves his children: James K. Haskell of Gill, MA; Wanita L. Sears and her husband, Joel of Wendell, MA and Naomi S. Haskell and her life partner, Dale Long of Colrain, MA.  Additionally, he leaves his grandchildren: Tanya Dwyer and her husband John, of Erving, MA; Jeremiah Haskell and his partner Hannah DeJong, of Epping, NH; Danielle Haskell and her partner Raven, of Gill, MA; Emily J Sears of Amherst, MA and Erin Rose of Manchester, NH, as well as his great grandchildren: Jacob I. Dwyer, of Erving, MA; Zachary Haskell of Millers Falls, MA and Huntress Haskell of Epping, NH.  He leaves several nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews to remember him. 
 
He was predeceased by his father in 1951, by his mother in 1960, by his loving wife Pauline in April of 2006, his son, William “Pooh Bear” Haskell (August of 2014) and by his grandson, Tyler Haskell (May of 2014) and by his sister. 
 
Funeral services in celebration of his life, patriotism and many gifts, will be observed on Thursday, October 2, 2014 from the McCarthy Funeral Homes, 36 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA @ 11:00AM, with Rev. Daniel Johnson, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church of Turners Falls, MA to officiate.  Interment with military honors will follow in the St. Anne’s Cemetery, Turners Falls, MA, with a detachment of the USN in attendance to be assisted by the Hale-Clapp VFW Post #3295 of South Deerfield, MA who will provide a firing detail. The Haskell family will receive guests prior to the services at the funeral home on Thursday morning from 9:00AM until the time of the service. 
 
Expressions of affection in the form of charitable contributions are suggested IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, to Hale-Clapp VFW Post #3295, in c/o Mr. Alan Thackeray-P.O. Box 248, Whately, MA 01093 or on line at http://myvfw.org/ma/post3295 in support of their service to area Veterans, or to the Dakin Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01001 for Clifford’s love of animals.

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