Clifton Hugh Chastain

Born to college students, DeVona (Furman) & Hugh E. Chastain, in Durango, Colorado, Clifton’s life started out surrounded by enormous families on both sides – full of hard work, dedication to the land, each other, and adventure just around the corner.

From the time he was very young, he spent time with his grandparents who impacted his character & his knowledge greatly, something he emulated later in his life. One set lived on a huge ranch in western Nebraska where life was wide open & the work was every day. The other set lived outside of Cortez on a dry farm where the wind blows & water has to be hauled. And he was loved beyond measure by both.

From the time he was 9, he lived on 5th Street in Durango, Colorado. That address was his “home” address all through his 21 year military career. He graduated from Durango High and went on to attend CU, Fort Lewis (A.S. EE), and graduated from CSU in 1962 with a BS in Physical Science, with a Math Major and an Education Minor – because he was going to be a math teacher. Of course, life had other plans.

At age 16 at a dance – one of many, many dances in small town Durango where clubs and lodges reigned – he met Lauralee Howard, the high school principal’s daughter. He arrived with one girl; he left with Lauralee. They married before his Senior year in college, September 9, 1961.

Before he could become a teacher, the draft was knocking at his door. Never one to let chance rule, Cliff joined the Air Force & started a highly successful career in military intelligence/computers, long before computers were common. The family lived in West Germany, Aurora, CO, Fairfax, VA, Omaha, NE, and Springfield, VA. Retiring at the rank of Lt Colonel brought him to Colorado Springs “to the other side of the table” as he put it, as a defense contractor. He worked for Booz, Allen, and Hamilton, and Science Applications International Corp. SAIC took the empty nesters along with Cliff’s mother to San Antonio, TX for 5 years.

Once he decided to retire for real in Delta, CO – he still did side jobs, substitute taught, golfed every day it was over 45 degrees, had coffee with the men of Delta, and became very active in the Delta United Methodist Church. Clifton & Lauralee spent a lot of time at Electra Lake enjoying friends, family, and each other. He often said he didn’t know how he ever had time to work because he was so busy.

Throughout all his work – where he won many accommodations, accolades, a bronze star – he & Lauralee raised a family in which he poured his wisdom, his energy, his need for mischief and curiosity, & his drive to leave the world a little bit better.

Melissa, Christopher, & Caryn were his pride and joy – even when they stretched his patience. Their spouses, grandchildren & great-grandchild brought more and more joy – because there were more people to listen to his stories.

He taught them to swim and to fish, to go fast, to dare to do things they didn’t think they could do. Challenged them to think about it a different way, talk it out, walk it out, only say “ouch” once, and work until it’s done.

Clifton had one sister, Carol Jean MacNutt (Art), who predeceased him. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lauralee, his three children, Melissa (John) Harris, Christopher (Kristi) Chastain, and Caryn (Bryan) Braddy. And his SEVEN grandchildren: Dale (Zelina) Kirkland, Courtney (Bijan) Nassir, Caili Chastain, Zach Chastain, Matthew Chastain, Asher (Alec) Yoho, and Clifton John (Lily Segura) Braddy. AND by his beloved great-grandchild, John Yoho.