Entered into his rest peacefully Saturday.March 21, 2015, at the age of 65. Clifford was preceded in death by his parents George and Lavone Ney (nee McCumber). He is the loving father of Angela McGarry, the loving brother of Gerald Ney, Joan Polasky and Anne Ney, and the dear nephew of Marion Fogec. Clifford is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate Clifford’s life, Saturday, April 4, 2015 at Parkway Apostolic Church 10940 S. Nicholson Rd Oak Creek, WI from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. A Memorial Service will follow at 11:00 AM.
To share a memory or to sign the guestbook visit www.SuminskiFuneralHome.com
Past Comments
Gerald Alan Ney
For Cliff: Gone with the Snow 03/22-23/15
[Clifford Andrew Ney 12/07/49 – 03/21/15]
[As the eldest you rather expect to go first,
But things often go differently]
The memories jostle
For Attention:
The wrestling
That broke the bed;
Cousins’ visits
In early years
With tearing around
The circle of rooms;
Sundays before sunup,
Papers in the back,
Dad at the wheel
Of the old Olds wagon
Through both our routes.
~
I found Golson’s song
Named for another Cliff,
A trumpeter too.
A flowing threnody,
The horn at its softest
And sweetest, liquid warmth
To remind of your gentle side.
~
Your long winter
Over at last.
Wish I wasn’t missing
From the goodbyes.
That last time
On the phone,
Unfinished.
But where you are now
You know my heart…
All of it.
What I can say.
What I haven’t words for
What’s between
You, me and the Lord.
I remember conversations of ring-lords and hobbits;
of family present and lost long past in wars of the last century.
I see waltz lessons, the sharing of classic films,
tactical board-games with armies amassed on small territories that overwhelm all in time. There were the many hours spent “wrestling” together over the strategies of Bandit Kings of Ancient China on Nintendo.
And through all there was music, singing, spirituality, comfort and warmth.
There are these memories and many more.
I am grateful for the kind loving father that you are.
Sail with love and joy to that swift sunrise on the far, white shore.
Na lû e-govaned vîn, ada.
-A. Baggins
“And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.”
-J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Return of the King”
Song: “Into the West” Annie Lennox/Howard Shore
https://youtu.be/shdiTRxTJb4
Lay down your sweet and weary head
Night is falling. You have come to journey’s end.
Sleep now. Dream of the ones who came before.
They are calling from across a distant shore.
Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see all of your fears will pass away.
Safe in my arms, you’re only sleeping.
What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea, a pale moon rises.
The ships have come to carry you home.
And all will turn to silver glass.
A light on the water, all souls pass.
Hope fades into the world of night
Through shadows falling out of memory and time.
Don’t say we have come now to the end.
White shores are calling. You and I will meet again.
And you’ll be here in my arms, just sleeping.
What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea, a pale moon rises.
The ships have come to carry you home.
And all will turn to silver glass
A light on the water, grey ships pass
Into the West.
Julie
This memory of Uncle Cliff may spark some giggles…
On a few occasions, my brother, sister, and I were able to participate within a Cliff/Anne produced theatrical performance and recording of Tarzan and Jane. Uncle Clifford’s Cheetah impersonation was very realistic.
MARK MCGARRY
When I think of Cliff Ney, here is what comes to mind:
Lionel Trains
The game of Chess
Monopoly
Risk
Religious discussions
Cliff played a part in my early years of life and I can say that they were “good memories”
Anyone that knew Cliff would say that he was a very intelligent, thoughtful, and overall caring guy. I can say that he was a positive influence in my life and although he was miles away then and now, the childhood memories will never be forgotten. We Love you Cliff!
Anne Ney
He was my brother and my dear friend. For many years, I called him “Murphy” – it was just a silly nickname but it stuck – so much so that he called himself The Murph (sort of like “The Fonz”). It was my way of calling him on being a little dense, but always meaning well. We had a lot of fun with that nickname – I even wrote a history of the Murphs, which, though not great literature, Cliff found very entertaining. In recent years, Cliff and I shared a church family and the love of teaching kids through Parkway’s children’s ministry. Our views on life’s important issues became identical. I will miss our passionate discussions on matters of faith and politics. I will also miss our lakeside walks looking for beach glass. Cliff knew that I love dogs – we couldn’t have one in our apartment building. He had a charming way of making me feel better about that. When I came home from work, he often greeted me with, “Wag, wag, wag.” Or, when watching TV and seeing that a certain type of commercial was coming on, he’d get my attention with, “Cute dog alert!” Little things…but it shows you how sensitive he was – he was almost always in tune with what mattered to me. He cared a great deal about everyone in his life. He prayed earnestly for his family.
Steve Polasky
Uncle Cliff was the uncle that got down with the kids of the family. He sat at the ‘kids table,’ he played games with the kids, he talked to the kids and he listened to the kids. Not that the other adults of the family never did these things, but Uncle Cliff always did. There are parts of Uncle Cliff that I like to believe are now part of me. Uncle Cliff believed in standing up for what he thought was right just because it was right. The more cynical motivations that inevitably intrude on our actions often got left on the wayside with him. He had a love for history, the wondrous writings of J.R.R. Tolkien and games, especially those involving tactics and strategy. He spent hours playing Chess with my Dad, and hours more playing Risk, Waterloo and many other games with myself and my sisters. Through him I leaned the love of reading, patience, being a good sport and striving to be a good person – all of which are rewards all by themselves. I will miss my Uncle Cliff dearly.
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