Clyde "Ross" Hafer of Akron, Colorado passed away at the Washington County Nursing Home on Friday, July 2, 2010 after a two year battle with cancer. Ross was born on October 10, 1940 to Norma and Virgil Hafer. He spent his childhood on several farms south of Akron in the Elba area. As a youngster he especially enjoyed his dogs, horses and practicing with his BB gun. He attended Sunnyvale school from the first grade to the fifth, Highpoint School sixth to the eighth and then Akron High School where he graduated in 1958.
In 1959 Ross joined the Navy and served four years as a Sonar technician. After basic training in San Diego he spent his tour in Japan, the Philippines and Hawaii. After the Navy, Ross began his telecommunications career in California and then moved back to Colorado where he worked for Mountain Bell in Fort Morgan from 1970 until 1984. In 1984 he accepted a job in Dallas, Texas working for AT&T from 1984 until 1986. When he retired and bought a business of frozen ice cream/ frozen margarita machines which were placed in restaurants and bars all over town. When the economy started downward, Ross went back to telecommunications work contracting to Fujitsu engineering jobs and installing fiber optics in Bell buildings across the United States. In 1989 Ross married his wife Shirley who also worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone. After her retirement, she was able to travel with him and they were fortunate they could work together and see so much of the country.
In 1996 Ross and Shirley moved back to Akron due to the failing health of his parents. After a few years Ross only contracted out of Denver so he could be at home more. In 2002 he said "no more on the road" and went to work at the Justice Center doing maintenance under both Sheriff English and Sheriff Kuntz. He retired from there in 2005 and concentrated on his hobbies and keeping the ditches mowed in front of their property. After a tornado destroyed the 100 year old barn, Ross decided to use that good old barn wood and make something out of it. He enjoyed taking pictures especially old barns in the country and the camera was always with him. His wife did all of the computer work on the pictures while he spent hours in his shop making frames. They traveled to many craft and art shows throughout Northeastern Colorado and the Front Range.
Ross thoroughly enjoyed his retirement working in his shop, going to Blackhawk and he loved to dance and be at parties. Ross is a 36 year member of the Elks Organization and currently a member of Fort Morgan Lodge # 1143 and a member of the American Legion Post 66 in Akron.
Ross is survived by his wife Shirley, sister Irene Trumbo and husband Jerry, brother Floyd Hafer; five daughters, Stephanie Becker of Crawford, Colorado, Joni Reents of Thornton, Kelly Hafer and husband Mike of Westminster, Jackie Wilburn of LaVeta, Lori Palmer of Colorado Springs and one son James Coppock and wife Rita Mae of Aurora. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild along with nieces, nephews, cousins and a large extended family.
Ross was preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Norma, two children Clyde Ross Hafer, Jr. and Jamie Lynn Hafer, and son in law Bill Reents.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Plains, Sterling office through the Bowin Funeral Home, PO Box 576 in Akron, Colorado.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Akron.