Clent Kniffen

Clent Kniffen, formerly of Clyde, died at Cedar Ridge Senior Living facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on December 10, 2025.  He was surrounded by his wife of 74 years, Imogene, and by his family.  Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Bailey Howard Funeral Home Chapel in Clyde, Texas with John Connel officiating. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until service time on Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Clyde Cemetery. 
Clent was born on May 7, 1930, in Clyde to Hubbard and Sarah Elizabeth Selman Kniffen.  He attended school through the 8th grade, and then he worked on the family farm.
It bears repeating that his wife of nearly 75 years was at his side when he passed because that is the only place she could be.  She refused to leave his side even after it had become very difficult.  They were a love story until the end and a golden example of the marriage relationship throughout their lives.  Wherever they walked, they walked hand in hand.  
Clent served in the U. S. Army for two years.  Then he had a long career with El Paso Natural Gas Company, retiring with 31 years of service.  They lived in many interesting and diverse places, including Algeria.  In 1985, he chose an early retirement and moved back to his hometown of Clyde.  The word “retired” might not be correct as Clent rarely slowed down.  He loved working on their farm, growing vegetables that the entire family got to share (and often pick, shuck, peel or can) in Imogene’s kitchen.  He worked tirelessly to produce a good crop of hay.
Much of his enjoyment came from working on the farm with antique tractors and equipment.  One could always find a Farmall, Oliver, John Deere, Allis-Chalmers, Moline, to name a few under restoration or working.  He won numerous blue ribbons in county fairs all over the area and often had grandkids riding with him or in parades with the entire family on a trailer behind one of his beloved tractors.  When there wasn’t a parade, he was giving tractor rides around the farm to his thirteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. 
When he was not working the farm, he was working…somewhere.  The somewhere included the Lueder’s Baptist Camp, volunteering at Love & Care Ministries, helping anyone with anything mechanical, or doing whatever was needed to help people in his community. 
Clent was a quiet man, with a great smile and infectious, quiet laugh.  Not many men can be called “sweet,” but Clent was just that…. a kind and sweet man.  While quiet in spirit, his actions spoke loudly, one evidence of this was the year he won Clyde’s Man of the Year because of all his selfless work and volunteering.
When he was not volunteering or farming, he was playing music.  While he could play several instruments, he was best known for his mandolin and steel guitar talents.  He was a self-taught musician who could not read music.  If a person could hum the song, Clent could play it.  Some of our favorite memories are of his “old man band,” Four & More, playing at the Pizza House, fairs, and nursing homes all across the area.  Even more fun were the practice sessions at the farm.  He loved music up to his last day on earth.
If the average person were asked about Clent, they would tell you about quarters, the steel guitar, and tractors, probably in that order.  Quarters!  He literally gave out thousands of quarters to kids, grandkids, great grandkids and even full-grown adults.  Earning a quarter required one to recite a Bible memory verse.  In return you got a memory verse back and a quarter.  He became so noted for his quarters that the church and community had a 90-year-old birthday parade for him and each car brought…. rolls of quarters!
He and Imogene joined the Clyde First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon.  Clent was anything be a weekend Baptist.  He was very active as a Gideon passing out little bibles everywhere.  Taco Tuesday at Rosa’s?  Passing out bibles.  Ice cream at DQ?  Passing out bibles.  He would walk right up to strangers, this incredibly quiet man, and ask, “Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?”  Then a little bible would appear.  He quietly went to the county prisons, where not just the inmates, but the guards and staff were always truly excited to see him.
Clent was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers: Eugene, Howard, J. E., Don, and Melvin Kniffen, and four sisters:  Estelle Davis, Faye Hedrick, Era Waggoner and Nina West.
He is survived by his wife, Imogene Fleming Kniffen, their four children: Rita and Michael Hale of Bixby, Oklahoma, David and Jo Ellen Kniffen of Joshua, Texas, Keith and Sandra Kniffen of Abilene, Texas, Wendy and Nate Tinkle of Albany, Texas., as well as thirteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and several nieces and nephews.
Clent was a quiet man, but his character, actions and love for God, his wife, his family and everyone around him was anything but quiet. 
We love you, Clent/Dad/Grandpa/ Great Grandpa.  We will miss you, but we celebrate that you are now in the presence of your Lord.  While it does not completely erase the sadness of your absence, it covers much of it with our happiness for your new home and healthy body.
Memorials may be sent to Love & Care Ministries at 605 S. First Street, Clyde, Texas, 79510.