Obituaries

Cliff Ahart

Photo of Cliff Ahart
Cliff (Clifton Huon) Ahart, Pastor of the First Church of God in Fort Smith, Ark., for 40 years, has passed into the heavenly glory of the presence of his savior Jesus Christ on July 10, 2010. Cliff and his wife Jean helped start a successful bus ministry and eventually founded the First Church of God Academy (K-12). A talented musician, Cliff authored dozens of songs, poems and books, in addition to preaching over 5,000 sermons to his congregation in Fort Smith. He helped start several quartets in the church over the forty year period. A gifted communicator, his faithfulness to the ministry helped influence several individuals to go into the full time ministry. In addition, he convinced numerous people of the benefits of serving Jesus. A leader in the Fort Smith community, he was a recipient of the Spirit of the Frontier Award by the City of Fort Smith in 2002 for contributions to the community. A leader in the National Right to Life movement, Cliff was active in upholding the rights of unborn children. Prior to entering the ministry, Cliff was a veteran of the U.S Air Force, where he served his country honorably at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wash. He then promoted the benefits of the Dale Carnegie public speaking class after serving in a management position with Murdock Finance Company in southern MO, where he was recognized as an Outstanding Young Man of America in 1965. A graduate of Jacksonville High School, Cliff attended Little Rock University (UALR), taking pre-law courses, before hearing God's call to enter the ministry. Cliff was born on Dec. 5, 1931, in Grubbs, Ark. of Silva Huon and Etna Marie Ahart. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean, of Fort Smith; two daughters, Karen McDaniel of Lawrenceville, Ga. and her husband Joe, and Melinda Hart of Edmond, Okla. and her husband Jim; four grandchildren, Britt Wullenwaber and her husband Matt, Ashley Davenport, Christina Davenport, and Shawn McDaniel and his wife Alicia; four great grandchildren, Josef Wullenwaber, Taylor McDaniel, Price McDaniel, and Pierce McDaniel. He is also survived by his mother, Etna Marie Ahart, 94, of North Little Rock, Ark. He is also survived by five brothers and one sister, Tom Ahart of Little Rock, Dean, Wayne and Bill Ahart of Austin, Texas, Bob Ahart of Holiday Island, Ark., and his sister, Eunice Freeman of North Little Rock, Ark., as well as numerous nieces and nephews and a host of close and dear friends. Cliff was preceded in death by his father, Silva Ahart, and his brothers Melvin and Dale Ahart. Funeral services will be held at the First Church of God at Midland Blvd. and Kelley Hwy in Fort Smith, at noon, 12 p.m., Tuesday, July 13, 2010. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. on July 12, 2010 8 p.m. at Lewis Funeral Home on Kelley Hwy in Fort Smith. Burial will be at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith. Pallbearers include Gary Butler, Marty Butzloff, Utah Everett, Eric Lawson, Rodney Ledbetter and Jim Odom. Honorary Pallbearers include all the faithful men of the First Church of God of Fort Smith.  Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of God, 1226 North 56th Terrace, Fort Smith, Ark. 72904. Viewing will also be held 10 a.m. until Service time at First Church of God at Midland Blvd and Kelley Hwy Fort Smith.

Published July 11, 2010

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