2021. Clifford "Cliff" England, 83, of Calvert, MD, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, July 4, 2021.

Clifford leaves behind his 5 children and their spouses: Sondra England McKeever and her husband, Jim, Calvert, Thomas C. England, Ret. Navy Commander, and his wife, Connie (Hevelow), of South Mills, NC, Helen England Hart and her husband, Robert, Calvert, Mary England McLaughlin and her husband, John, of Elkton, MD, and Sarah Russell and her husband, Brian, of Calvert, MD; grandchildren: Ashley Holl (Eugene), Kelley Hanna (Kaleb), Nathan McKeever (Rebecca), Bryan McKeever, Colleen Jones (Dean), Ethan Hart (Kayla), Rachel Hart, Brandon Laughlin (Jenn), Alison Reeves (David), Jason Laughlin (Kassi), Katie McLaughlin (Bas), Andy Russell (Kaitlynn), and B.J. Russell; great-grandchildren: Desmond, Eloise, Brianna, and Riley McKeever, Nevaeh, Thomas, and Joseph Holl, Hartley Hanna, Avacyn and Parker Jones, Emily, Kathryn, and Abigail Reeves, Reily Kay Laughlin, and Koen Justus; sister, Helen Trimble, Princeton, NJ; sister-in-law, Ruth Cameron, Havre de Grace, MD; and brother-in-law, Bill Nickle, North East, MD.

In addition to his parents, Clifford was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jacqueline "Jacqui" Nickle England; son, Joseph Cameron England; and sister, Frances Payne.

Clifford England was born on November 2, 1937, in Jennersville, PA, and was the son of the late Everett R. and Amber Cameron England. He graduated from Rising Sun High School in 1955. An Air Force veteran, Clifford was a seventh-generation farmer and retired from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a Forest Ranger in 1997 with 25 years of service. He was a man of great faith and instilled a love of God into his children. He was a beloved, caring Father, Grandfather and Great-grandfather and will be deeply missed by all his family and many friends.

Cliff began working on the family farm in Calvert with his father at a very young age. Many days were spent pulling weeds in the fields and helping with harvesting or tending the family dairy herd. He started driving tractors by the time he was old enough to reach the foot pedals. Days were long, beginning in the wee hours of the morning to milk the herd, then walk to Calvert School. He would walk home from school and work on the farm until dark. Those early years instilled a strong work ethic in young Cliff.

Cliff joined the U.S. Air Force in 1957 and trained as an aircraft engine mechanic. He served until he had to return to the family farm in Calvert, where he was needed to manage the farm after his father suffered a second heart attack. He remained on the Air National Guard inactive list until 1963.

Cliff and Jacqui farmed the land from 1958-1972, managing a dairy herd. In 1972, Cliff made the decision to sell the cows and do what he had always dreamed of doing – become a Forest Ranger. He moved his family to Oakland, MD, Garrett County, during the winter of 1972 and served for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at Herrington Manor State Park and Swallow Falls State Park. He served in Garrett County for 3 years while completing his Associates Degree in Forestry. He was transferred to Kent and Queen Anne's counties in 1976 for about 6 months before finally being transferred back to Cecil County and serving as a Forest Ranger at Elk Neck State Forest until his retirement in 1997. After returning to Cecil County, and while working full time for the Forest Service, Cliff continued to work the farm with his father, Everett, who died in January 1982. Following the death of Everett, Clifford and Jacqui moved back to Bethel Farm in Calvert in 1983 and began raising PolyPay sheep.

All his children spent many hours working on the farm over the years. From tending the animals, working the fields, baling hay and putting it in the barn, mowing, vegetable and flower gardening, or whatever else needed done on the farm, Cliff and Jacqui's children, spouses and grandchildren have always been a part of getting the work done keeping the farm going. Their faithful stewardship of the land instilled a solid work ethic in their children and grandchildren that is carried over in everything they do.

Cliff loved classical, jazz and bluegrass music, and he and Jacqui taught all the kids to love and appreciate all types of music. As an adult, Cliff took piano lessons and photography courses at Cecil College. Cliff instilled in each of his children the desire to learn new things. Cliff was very talented and could make or fix just about anything. In 2014, Cliff worked side-by-side with is grandson, Jason Laughlin, to completely rebuild the engine and restore his original 1959 Fordson tractor. From 2015 to 2016, he completely restored his original 1957 Triumph motorcycle.

Cliff was an active member of Grace Bible Chapel, Rising Sun, MD, for 40 years, and was a deacon for many years. He was a mentor for the Elijah School, designed and hand-built racks and cubbies for the children's room in the new church building, restored old pews from the old church building, served on the Building and Maintenance Crew, provided security during services, hosted the Fall Pond Picnic and Bonfire, provided hayrides for the kids, hosted Family Day on the Farm, sponsored by the Maryland Cooperative Extension, a Labor Day Pig Roast on the farm for over 20 years for family and friends, and also hosted the England Family Reunion every other year at the farm.

He has served on the Rose Bank Cemetery Association for 20 years, as President up until his death. He was on the board of the Cecil County Farm Museum, The Cecil County Ag Advisory Board, The Sheep Growers Association, and was a Southern States Cooperative Dealer, selling seed corn. In addition, he was a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) for 62 years.

Cliff volunteered for the Cecil County Fair at the Department of Natural Resources booth, at the Fair Hill Hunt as a check-in point for deer hunters, and at the Apple Butter Festival for Cecil County Farm Museum.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 8, 2021, at Grace Bible Chapel, 1949 Biggs Highway, Rising Sun, MD, where visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Interment with military honors will be in Rose Bank Cemetery, Calvert.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Grace Bible Chapel, in care of Hicks Home for Funerals, 103 W. Stockton Street, Elkton, MD  21921.