Clifford Mayes
November 21, 2007

Clifford Mayes, one of three children of Clara (Nutall) Mayes and William Mayes, was born on April 24, 1921 in Peoria, Illinois. He grew up in Watts, California where he graduated from high school. He attended several years of college and joined the United States Army in June 23, 1944. He was a rifleman with Company 12 of the 271st Infantry in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater and also served on the wire crew to maintain communications. Clifford was a bandsman and played the trumpet in the Army Ground Forces Band, 88th in France. The military band performed at dances and other festive occasions and Clifford served in the Army until June 13, 1946.
During the years, Clifford worked at Northup Aircraft in California, was a cable TV distributor, and continued playing his trumpet in bands during the Dixieland, Jazz and Big Band Era. He enjoyed photography and music and was a Ham Radio operator. He belonged to the Methodist Church.
Clifford and Josephine Traxinger were married on December 5, 1998 in Scottsdale, Arizona. They made their home in Scottsdale and in 2001 moved to Red Oak, Iowa. Two years later they moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Red Oak.
Clifford and Josephine had been married nearly nine years when Clifford died at the Good Samaritan Center on November 21, 2007. He had attained the age of 86 years, 6 months, and 27 days.
Clifford was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and a sister. He is survived by his wife Josephine Mayes of Good Samaritan Center in Red Oak; niece Joanna Trafforot and her husband David of San Pedro, California; step children, Carol Ocker and husband Wayne of Henderson, Iowa, Howard Eastlick and Van of Savannah, Georgia, and Susan Reinke and husband Harold of Billings, Montana; and 13 step grandchildren.

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