My name is Vicky Zimmerman-Harvey and I had the pleasure of meeting Clifton Manning about 2 years ago. Unfortunately, he passed away recently and his mother is in desperate need of help to have him cremated and placed in a mausoleum as soon as possible. His best friend, JustRita Therese, and his mother, Anita, are asking for donations to go directly to Oakwood Hill Funeral Home, 5210 S Alder, Tacoma, WA 98409. Their phone number is [phone redacted].

Clifton was a committed supporter of Old Dog Haven. Any donations that go beyond the cost of getting him settled in his new place will go to them. Clif suffered from many ailments but never let it stop him from working and enjoying all critters, Pt. Defiance Park, and walking with Rita’s two dogs. He sat for hours collecting and cleaning aluminum cans; he earned extra money and helped clean this world. Clif was the go-to for Rita and others when they needed his gentle nature to calm themselves. He would point out the sunrise, spider webs, and the Junko birds that were eating the crumbs he had left out at the J-lot at the Tacoma Dome. At the GTCTC, he befriended a squirrel that he named “Nuts” and at his home, a stray cat named “Sushi.” Clif’s first love was Rita’s dog “Ellie,” and he could never imagine loving another as much as her. He was right; they had a deep, tender relationship.

Clif is survived by his only living relative, his mother, Anita. What he lacked in relatives, he made up for with many friends who had their lives impacted and touched by him. Our lives will go on with a little less love but with a whole lot of memories, wisdom, and compassion for our beloved Clifton.