Our loved one Clifford Henry Dane passed away January 7, 2025. He will be missed so much as he leaves us for heaven. Clifford was born in Weatherford, TX to Henry Washington and Ruth Mary Wynn Dane on July 1, 1938.

His father Henry moved to Dalhart, TX and established the Builder's Supply on Highway 87. After working with his father to build the business, Clifford graduated from Dalhart High School in 1956 and was married to Peggy Jo Delano in 1959. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University in 1962 and his Masters of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in 1967. He earned the Doctorate of Philosophy in Biblical Studies from the Caribbean College of the Bible/Seminary in 1997.

In his first years of ministry, Clifford pastored four Southern Baptist Churches: the First Baptist Church of Felt, OK, the First Baptist Church of Farris, OK; the First Baptist Church of Olive, OK; and First Baptist Church of Tyrone, OK.

During his studies at the seminary and then continuing through his pastoral ministry, Clifford and Peggy became intensely aware of a growing call to foreign missionary service. While serving in Tyrone, they applied to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board and were appointed to serve in Brazil, South America in 1972.

After one year of language training in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, Clifford and his family moved to Salvador, Bahia, Brazil where he established the School of Religious Education and planted a new church in that city, working with the Igreja Batista Calvário. He was able to help to acquire land close to Salvador, Bahia for the opening of a recreational learning camp; the Centro de Treinamento.

After working in Salvador for six years, Clifford and family then moved to Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil where he was a professor at the Seminário Batista do Norte do Brasil. He taught courses in Theology, Archeology, and Religious Education. During that time, he also took part in a new church start, Igreja Batista da Várzea do Capibaribe.

Clifford and Peggy moved to Belize, Central America in 1995 and worked to help and strengthen churches in Central and Southern Belize. Along with volunteers from the U.S. he worked with many churches there and was involved in yet another new church plant, the Buttonwood Bay Baptist Church.

Clifford was a versatile and talented missionary, effectively applying skills during his career on the mission field which not only included theology and pastoral care, but also woodworking, mechanics, and electronics. As one example, he taught himself to repair and restore large church organs and he was so effective that he was invited to become the representative for the Rodgers Organs company for all of South America. Of course, his calling as a minister and a missionary led him to decline this offer.

After retirement in 1999 from the International Mission Board, Clifford was appointed as the Minister of Senior Adults at First Baptist Church in Dalhart, TX where he served for six years. He also served as the interim pastor for First Baptist Church, Texline, TX for two years. He was a professor with the Caribbean College of the Bible/Seminary for three of his post-retirement years, directing the studies of correspondence students.

Clifford was preceded in death by parents Henry and Ruth Dane; his sister Betty Phillips and baby brother Henry Junior Dane; Peggy's parents Clifford and Catherene Delano; and Peggy's stepfather Orval Stewart. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Peggy Dane; his sister Wilma Phillips; his three children Brent Dane, Troy Dane, and Gwenann Sprecher; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

A service celebrating and honoring his life will be 2:00 PM, Monday January 13 at First Baptist Church, 1000 E 16th Street, Dalhart. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Clifford will lie in state Sunday, 12:00 Noon to 8:00 PM at Horizon Funeral Home, 701 Elm Avenue (the corner of Elm and 7th) where the family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23230; or at www.imb.org/generosity/give-now.

Online condolences may be made to the Dane family at www.horizonfuneral.com.