Donal Clifton “Cliff” McClellan went to be with his Lord and Savior May 30, at 3 p.m. at the Irving Baylor Medical Center, Irving, Texas. By his side were his wife, DiDi, his brother, Wayne, and many of his long time friends and family members. God has helped Cliff, a minister of the gospel, fight a courageous battle with cancer over the past two years.
Born in Dallas, Texas Feb. 28, 1953, Cliff lived in Dallas and graduated from Samuel High School in 1971. He played football at TCU in ’71-’72, before transferring to Hardin Simmons University where he got his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 1975. In 1977 he received his Master’s Degree in Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
While in seminary Cliff served in his first ministry staff position at First Baptist Church, Weatherford, Texas as Minister of Music from 1975-’81. Cliff also served at Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, Texas from 1981-’94, and was pastor of Family Place Church in Irving, Texas from 1994-’95. He will always be known for his pageantry, special choir productions, as well as involving so many others in his productions.
Cliff and DiDi Reese were married in May 20, 1994 and moved to Weatherford, Texas in 1995, where they started The Texas Star Ranch and Retreat and have served the Lord faithfully till his passing. Their strong Christian influence has touched lives far beyond the county where they live. The adult and youth choir members of Cliff’s past churches represent an amazing number of individuals whose lives will never be the same as a result of his love and direction.
Cliff is preceded in death by his mother Eva McClellan, 1963, his father Hamlet, 1991, and stepmother, Juanita, 2000.
Survivors include his wife, DiDi “Lady B” McClellan, Weatherford, Texas, and brother, Wayne McClellan, Dallas Texas.
Memorial services will be at Northside Baptist Church in Weatherford at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, (all past choir members are invited to come at 3 p.m. to be in the choir). A celebration of Cliff’s life at The Texas Star will occur immediately following the services with food, music and testimonies. All are invited to attend! All donations are requested to be made to your own personal church’s music ministry. Cliff loved serving the Peaster/Weatherford Community and his many friends in the Metroplex area.
