Clifford Blaine Grisham

Clifford Blaine Grisham, age 49, passed away on Friday, August 23, 2019 at his Fayetteville home surrounded by family. Cliff was born on October 12, 1969, at Fort Knox, Ky., to William Garrett and Jan Evelyn Puckett Grisham. He joined big sister Gael Elizabeth and much later welcomed baby sister, Ruth Marie. He was an adventurer from the beginning, running everywhere and leaving chaos in his wake and earning himself the nickname "Cliff the Blur". He was notorious for getting "lost" and other misadventures which continually kept his parents on their toes. He loved dogs, bikes, balls, and friends. In first grade, he became the defender of girls on the playground, often coming home with bloodied knuckles for downing the class bully and a sad heart for having to resort to such action. That character trait of fighting for those who couldn't stand up for themselves followed him throughout life. His family later moved to Arkansas, and Cliff began his elementary years in Clarksville before moving to Pulaski County Schools in fourth grade. He graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in 1988 in the top 10% of his class. He enrolled that fall at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville where five weeks into his freshman year he met the love of his life, Laura Gibson. After a three-year courtship, the two were married on December 29, 1991 at Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel in Bella Vista, Ark., and spent the entirety of their 27-year marriage in Fayetteville. He graduated with a BSBA in accounting in May 1992 and began a long, successful career with Tyson that same year as a sales controller. He held a variety of positions at the corporate headquarters over the next two decades until 2013 when he stepped into the role of senior manager of sales development which he held until his death. Cliff considered his greatest accomplishment in life by far to be his family. He and Laura were blessed with four sons and one daughter, and he never turned down an opportunity to cheer them on from the sidelines or coach one of their baseball or soccer teams. Cliff was funny and fun-loving and was always the life of the party at any gathering where he happened to be present. He was a man of great character – solid, steady, dependable, loyal and wise. He was the most devoted and steadfast husband and father ever. When his and Laura's firstborn child was born with special needs, he faced the new challenges with courage and patience. After other children were added to the family, Cliff often oversaw Caleb's care during family outings and vacations. His faith was also a very important part of life as well. Cliff professed faith in Jesus Christ at the age of four and was baptized at the age of twelve. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Fayetteville for more than 30 years. He was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents: Blaine and Ruth Puckett of Sayre, Oklahoma, and Olen and Gladys Grisham of Rockwall, Texas, and his beloved uncle, Clifford Garrett. He is survived by his wife, Laura; four sons, Caleb, Bryton, Ethan, and Soren Grisham; and one daughter, Delia Grisham, all of Fayetteville; his parents, Bill and Jan Grisham, of Fort Gibson, Okla.; two sisters, Gael Nichols (Therron) and five children of Morris, Okla., and Ruth (Brian) Garrison and two children of Oklahoma City, Okla.; his mother-in-law, Nancy Gibson of Fayetteville; two brothers-in-law, Anders (Julie) Gibson of Houston, Texas, and three children, and Brian Gibson and his four children of Virginia. In addition, he leaves behind a large family of Tyson coworkers known affectionately as "Cliffy's Crew" who have supported the Grisham family through innumerable acts of kindness and generosity during Cliff's year-long battle with liver cancer. Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, from 5-8 p.m. at First Baptist Church Fayetteville, 20 E. Dickson St., Fayetteville, Ark. A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 7, 2019, at First Baptist Church Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Grisham Children Education Fund in care of Laura Grisham, and reference the account ending in 425. Donations can be left at Moore's Chapel, deposited at any Arvest Bank with the above account name and number or sent to Grisham Family c/o Kristin Allen, Tyson Foods, 2200 W. Don Tyson Parkway, CP 581, Springdale, Ark., 72702. To place an online tribute visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.