In the early morning hours of January 3, 2025, Clifford Ray Willoughby Sr. passed away, with his son, Cliff Jr., by his side, the person he loved most in the world.

Clifford Sr. was born in Alameda, Calif. on February 8, 1940, to Joseph Willoughby and Phyllis Millhouse, both of whom he lost while he was still a young child.

Clifford Sr. was without family until his beloved son, Cliff Jr., was born in 1977. Clifford Sr. raised Cliff Jr. as a single father from the time his son was six years old. He was the most devoted father that anyone could hope for. Father and son stuck by one another and did everything together for nearly all of 47 years.

They added to their family with many beloved dogs along the way: Major Shavonne, Boxy, Shasta, Cosmo, Hooch, Fudly, Misty, Mischief, Precious, Butch, Chester and sweet Oreo.

They lived in Medford, Oregon until they took an epic bike ride to settle themselves in the cooler climate of coastal Humboldt County in 1990.

Their adventures together took an unwelcome pause when they were displaced from their housing in Orick in 2021. Clifford Sr.’s health took a downturn and, due to lack of housing, he was involuntarily placed in Granada Nursing Home in Eureka. Father and son worked diligently toward regaining housing so that they could be reunited. The thing they both wanted most in the world was to again be able to sit next to each other on their couch and watch movies. Even with the help of housing programs, it still took 2 and 1/2 years for the two to regain housing. Shortly after their reunion, Clifford Sr. was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, which they suspect could have been discovered and treated far sooner if not for years of what felt very much like utter neglect at the hands of Granada. While father and son were grateful that Clifford Sr.’s life didn’t end in that place and overjoyed to just sit next to one another on the couch once again, their last six months together felt painfully short.

Clifford Sr. is survived, dearly loved, and sorely missed by Cliff Jr., Oreo, and his friend, Tif.

Final arrangements were handled by Ayers Family Cremation. Cliff Jr., Tif and Oreo will visit the beaches in Orick with Clifford Sr.’s remains on his birthday this year.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Cliff Willoughby Sr.’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.