Clifford Harold Blatchley

Clifford H. Blatchley, Jr., beloved father and husband, died Wednesday morning, October 3, 2007 at the Denver Hospice facility in Aurora after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of the home at the Eastern Star Assisted Living facility in Denver; three children, Chuck and his wife Sherry of Pittsburg, KS, David and his wife Kathy of Boise, ID, and Deborah Bewersdorf and her husband Robert of Parker, CO; seven grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. Cliff was born on July 15, 1922 in Erie, PA to Clifford H. Blatchley, Sr. and his wife Grace (Fritz-Willenbucker). After graduating from high school in Erie, he joined the U.S. Army National Guard (260th C.A. AA), which was later activated following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served with the 80th Div. 317th Inf. Reg. 7 & 93 Battalion in the European theater, seeing action after the Normandy landing, at Bastogne, and in the Battle of the Bulge. He and Betty married on May 30, 1944. Following the war, Cliff earned a B.S. Education degree from Texas A&M University, El Paso, and moved to Illinois to teach chemistry and physics at Downers Grove High School North for 28 years. During that time he earned an M.A.Ed. degree from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. He became very active in a number of Masonic and civic organizations, starting with membership in El Paso Lodge #130 in 1946. In Illinois, he transferred to Grove Lodge #824 in 1962 and then to Sunrise Lodge #996 in 1987, where he served as Master in 1989 and 1991 and became a life member. After his retirement, he applied for dual membership with Euclid Lodge #65, Naperville in 1991. He had life memberships in both the York and Scottish rite bodies and served as heads of most of them, twice as Commander of Trinity Commandery #80. Other appendant bodies, many of which he served as an officer, include York Rite Sovereign College, HRAKTP, Red Cross of Constantine, KYCH, Knight Mason, Illinois Collegia Societas Rosicruciana, Royal Order of Scotland, Order of St. Patrick, Allied Masonic Degrees (charter member), Medina Shrine: DuPage and Aurora Shrine Clubs, and with Betty, OES Vesta #242 and Althea #206, Naperville, serving as Worthy Patron four times. He was a member and Trustee of the B.P.O.Elks, Downers Grove, American Legion Post 43 (Chaplain, Sgt at Arms, 2nd Vice Commander), V.F.W. #735235 Post 3873, Masonic Veterans Association #94 (Life member). He was also an active member of Our Saviors Ev. Lutheran Church, serving as Deacon, Usher, Com. Server, and a member of the International Lutheran Lay Ministers' League. He was a life member of the National Education Association and a member of the Illinois Teachers' Retirement Associations, AARP, NRA, and other community organizations. Interment is planned at Fort Logan National Cemetery. A Celebration Of Life for Clifford will be held Sunday, October 7, 2007 Two O'Clock in the Afternoon Eastern Star Masonic Chapel 2445 South Quebec Street Denver, Colorado In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations to the Disabled American Veterans. DAV Memorial Program P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnate, OH 45250-0301