Clifford M. "Cliff" Millsaps passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at the Granite VNA Hospice House in Concord, NH with his wife by his side. He was born on December 11, 1933 in Shirley, TN, the son of William Riley Millsaps and Minnie Jones and was the oldest of nine children. He was the beloved husband of Joanne Staples Millsaps for over 66 years. Cliff grew up in East Tennessee, and he joined the TN Air National Guard in High School. His unit was activated during the Korean War in December, 1951, so he didn’t finish his senior year. He served as a Medic at Otis AFB on Cape Cod, and at Brunswick Naval Air Station in Maine before his discharge, when he moved to Boston to continue his education, while working as an OR Technician at The NE Deaconess Hospital. There he met his wife when she was a student nurse, and they were married in 1956. They later made their home in Chester, where they have lived for almost 63 years, and raised their children in a community of dear friends and neighbors.
Cliff worked for Raytheon for over 40 years. During a temporary lay-off, he worked for a local contractor and learned home construction skills that he used to renovate their home. As a Tech Writer for the Hawk Missile System, he traveled to several places in the US, and The Netherlands, France, Germany, and Egypt.
Cliff loved sports and played in softball, bowling, and golfing leagues and attended all his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. For several years, he enjoyed hunting with Joanne’s father in the Center Harbor, NH area, and for a while he and Joanne raised and showed German Shepherd Dogs. He enjoyed camping. He traveled to all 50 states and 3 Canadian provinces.
Cliff served his church as Deacon, Moderator, Secretary of The Board of Trustees, and member of the Board of Resources and Finance. He also contributed to the Chester Community as a member of The Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Chester Seniors, and a School Building Committee. He served as a Volunteer Fireman, a Great Hill Cemetery Trustee, a Parent Advisor for the Boy Scouts, a founding member of the Lions’ Club, and he chaired the 250th Anniversary Committee.
Cliff is survived by his wife, Joanne, his daughter, Patricia Blair, his son, Jon Clifford (Corie), grandson, Zakary, granddaughter, Colby, Zak’s girlfriend, Alysa, and her daughter, Eliana, two brothers, John (Annette) and James (Katie) both of OH, and many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his sister June Moser, and five brothers: Avery, Jackie, Robert, Kenneth, and David.
Following cremation, calling hours will be held on Wednesday, May 10th from 5 - 7pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 13th at 12 noon at The Chester Congregational Baptist Church. A graveside service for the immediate family will be held at Great Hill Cemetery in Chester at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Chester Congregational Baptist Church or to the Granite VNA Hospice House in Concord, NH in his memory.