Clifford Stone

Clifford Stone was born in Dayton, Ohio, on September 30, 1928. He joined the United States Army at the age of 17 and served in Army Intelligence while stationed in Japan during his three years of service. On his return he attended and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Olivet Nazarene College (now University) in 1955. He married Dorothy Lavana Berry on May 24, 1952. Cliff and Lavana had two children, Sharon Olson Fenske (now deceased) and Mike (and Linda) Stone, as well as six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

His educational background included two Master’s Degrees from DePaul University in Administration and Supervision, and Guidance and Counseling. He served at DePaul University for a while, critiquing graduate students’ research and teaching Literacy Reading to disadvantaged adults through the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

Rev. Stone spent 30 years in dedicated service to the community and students of North Palos School District 117. His career there began in August 1955 and became the district’s first full time principal in 1959. He served as principal of Quin School for six years and Glen Oaks School for 20 years.

In his early years of teaching, Cliff also led the building of Worth Church of the Nazarene, doing much of the construction work himself and serving as pastor. Throughout his career in education, he often helped build churches and served in many capacities in Nazarene churches such as Aroma Park Illinois, Crestwood Illinois, Austin in Chicago, Oak Lawn, and Flint, Michigan First Church.

In 1975 he was appointed by the Mayor of Hickory Hills to serve as one of the Commissioners of the Blood Drive Program. He also served as an assistant for the Volunteer Drive Program of Hickory Hills. While serving on the Commission of Palos Township as a Youth Commissioner, he was actively involved in family counseling services as well as juvenile assistant to local police departments.

He received numerous honors and awards and was cited in The Outstanding Personalities of the West and Midwest, Two Thousand Men of Achievement, and Creative and Successful Personalities.

After his retirement from District 117, Rev. and Mrs. Stone enjoyed the country life in Newton, Illinois. Cliff assisted the local churches of several denominations by filling in as a speaker as needed. He and Lavana spent many hours visiting the sick and home-bound, as well as those living in nursing homes. He was also active in the leadership of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. Later they relocated to Arcola and then Cullom, Illinois, always helping in local churches and visiting the sick. Most recently they moved to Bourbonnais, Illinois, and Cliff became part-time staff at Bradley Church of the Nazarene. After retiring from the Bradley staff he and Lavana continued visiting nursing homes and the sick, and bringing sacks of groceries to those they knew were going without.

Throughout his life, Cliff’s top priority was his service to God, his love for his family, and his care for others.

Rev. Stone is survived by his wife, Lavana (Berry) Stone, and a son Michael (Linda) of Bourbonnais. Also surviving are a sister, Ruth Adkins of Peoria, and brothers Carl (Fay) Homan and Bill Homan; nephew Lee (Connie) Roberson of Bourbonnais; Grandchildren Amy (Marc) Hargate of Kankakee, Nicholas Stone and Elisabeth Stone of Bourbonnais, Caryl Olson of Colorado, Bethany (Ben) Wittrock and Matt Olson of Minnesota. He will also be missed by six great-grandchildren, five nephews, and many great-nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Stone Olson Fenske, his sister and brother-in-law Ruby and Harvey Roberson, a sister, Rose Sargent, a brother-in-law, Paul Adkins, brother John Homan, nephew Rick Roberson, and a beloved great-niece, Debbie Roberson.

A gathering for family and friends will be Monday, July 7 from 9-11 a.m. with a funeral celebration of Clifford’s life at 11:00 a.m. at the Bourbonnais Chapel of the Schreffler Life Story Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL.

To learn more about Clifford’s life, sign his on line guestbook, or leave a special memory, please go to schrefflerfuneralhome.com.

Memorials may be made to the family wishes.