LINCOLN – Diane Lorraine (Downs) Clifford, 75, died Nov. 3, 2012, at a Portland hospital. She was born Jan. 25, 1937, in Lincoln Center, daughter of Vinal and Clara (Martin) Downs.
Her home and family were her life’s work. Her door was always open – a gathering place for all at holidays and anytime anyone needed a friendly smile and a really good biscuit. The lights of Christmastime shone brighter on Lakeview Street than anywhere else. Comfort and cheer were handed out with cookies and kisses, and long visits with Santa, friends and family all around, and songs by the piano. Her camp at Silver Lake called loved ones in with bags, babies and granddogs. She never hesitated to feed 20 or more mouths every night all summer long. Diane was a member of First United Methodist Church, Lincoln.
She is survived by four children and their families, Valerie Diane and Ted Clark and their children, T.C. and wife, Heather, and Emily Diane; Quentin “Jack” and Lorna Smart and their daughters, Jaime and daughter, Mallory, Melissa and Caroline; Sarah and Jay Soule and their children, Lillian Clara and Grace Valerie; and Andrew Deac and Holly Smart and their daughter, Delaney Rye. Also surviving her is a brother, Elwood “Pop” Downs and her very special sister-in-law, Diana; special niece, Jane; several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by four sisters, Lorraine, Maxine, Marjorie and Dorothy.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at Lincoln United Methodist Church with the Rev. Roy Richardson officiating. Interment will be at Lincoln Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the outreach committee, United Methodist Church, 16 Lee Road, Lincoln, ME 04457. Donations may be left at the funeral home. To sign an online guest register, and to leave written condolences, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.
Diane Lorraine (Downs) Clifford
