Clifford Frank Yoakum, 83, of Harrisonville, MO, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Friday, March 28, 2008 at Liberty Memorial Hospital, Liberty, MO, surrounded by his family who loved him and will miss him greatly.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Monday, March 31, 2008 at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, with burial in Orient Cemetery. Military honors under the auspices of the Harrisonville Honor Guard. The family will receive friends 4:00-6:00 PM Sunday, March 30, 2008 at Atkinson Chapel, Harrisonville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 22500 East 299th Street, Harrisonville, MO 64701.

Clifford was born January 7, 1925 in Rich Hill, MO, the son of Jesse and Bertha (Woodall) Yoakum. On June 1, 1947, he was joined in marriage to Verna M. Gould of Harrisonville. He spent most of his life in Cass County after serving his country in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church for most of 50 years.

Clifford was a good provider for his family of five children. He worked for a few years at the Chevrolet Leeds Plant in Kansas City prior to working for Jack Cooper Transportation for 28 years, before health reasons caused his early retirement in 1979. After retirement, he spent his remaining years farming, raising cattle and gardening.

Clifford was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, two brothers and his son, Richard Dale Yoakum. He is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Verna M. Yoakum, of the home; three sons, Donald Yoakum and wife, Marilyn, of Archie, MO, Mark Yoakum and wife, Pam, of Dallas, TX, and David Yoakum and wife, Sheryl, of Lenexa, KS; one daughter, Susan Heckadon and husband, Scott, of Blue Springs, MO; a daughter-in-law, Vicki Yoakum, of Topeka, KS; 10 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and many friends.