Clifton was the 12th child born to JR and Mattie. He went on to marry Ethel Camp and from that union 10 children were born. Clifton and Ethel left Oklahoma in 1936 to move to Arizona. Being a farmer all his life he had to change his trade and became a pipe fitter for the city of Phoenix. He later went to work for Local 383 Union, and remained on the Executive Board until he retired.