Donald "Don" Lee Cluff

Donald Lee Cluff (70) passed from this life on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at San Juan Regional Medical Center. He was born on May 31, 1943 in Gallup, NM. Don was preceded in death by his mother Faye (Lee) Marsh, his father Elmer Dean Cluff, his beloved grandparents Pearl (Biggs) Lee and George W. Lee who raised him, and his mother and father in law, Margaret Burton Winters and E. Francis Winters. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 48 years Mary Cluff of Kirtland, NM, six sons Robert "Bobby" Cluff (Jill), Larry Cluff, Yancey Cluff, George Cluff (Tiandra), Joshua Cluff (Kourtney), Benjamin Cluff, 13 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. Don grew up in Kirtland, NM where he made lifelong friends that were instrumental in building his character. He graduated from Kirtland Central High School in 1961. Don subsequently attended Ricks College in Rexburg, ID where he met his sweetheart Mary (Winters) and they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on August 27, 1965. After completing his education at Brigham Young University in 1967, Don received a job as a teacher with the Central Consolidated School District where he taught school for 38 years (10 years in Shiprock, and 28 years in Kirtland). Don was an exceptional teacher who had a special gift to recognize a student's potential and transform that potential into confidence. Don was also a gifted coach and was best known for his accomplishments as a head and assistant basketball coach for the Kirtland Central Lady Broncos wherein he helped develop the program into one of the most successful girls' basketball programs in the State of New Mexico. Don was also a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served for a number of years as the Bishop of the Kirtland 1st Ward as well as a High Counselor in the Kirtland, NM Stake. Don greatly loved serving the members of the Kirtland NM Stake and was instrumental in helping so many people face the challenges of life and build greater faith in Jesus Christ. Don was a great teacher and mentor to many people in the Kirtland community and will be greatly missed. Funeral services for Don will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 at 10 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Stake Center located at #10 CR 6523 in Kirtland, NM (North of Highway 64). A viewing will also be held at the Brewer Lee and Larkin Funeral Home located at 103 E. Ute St., Farmington, NM on Friday, January 31, 2014 from 6-8 pm. Don's services are entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 East Ute St., (505) 325-8688.