Clifford R. Smith: A Life of Trucking, Family, and Legacy

Clifford was raised in Milo, AB, and later Rainier, AB, where he attended Alcoma School. The lure of driving trucks at an early age led him to work at South Slope Feeders. Clifford’s love of trucks, hard work, and determination opened many opportunities for him to pursue his passion.

He started his first company, Smith Brothers Express, with his brother Carl, eventually forming his own company, Clifford R. Smith Trucking, with his wife Dianna in 2000. Clifford worked tirelessly to expand his company, ever changing and molding it. Through his 30-plus-year partnership with Takeda Feeders, he achieved the dreams he had envisioned as a young man. Recently, Clifford was very proud and excited to introduce his grandson Evan into the business.

In his younger years, Clifford was a bit of a wild child, always ready to have some fun, earning him the nickname “Cooter.” This wild side caused his mother, Zelma (whom he affectionately called “Silver”), many, many gray hairs.

Clifford met Dianna in 1988, and they were married on July 12, 1997. Clifford and Dianna did everything together, from endless days and nights trucking, to traveling and other crazy antics with best friends Brad and Norma Slorstad. Clifford’s role as husband and dad later changed to his greatest title: Grandpa. When his grandchildren were little, they called him “Hamper,” which he loved, and so the name stuck. Hamper loved to pass down his knowledge of many life skills, including his vocabulary of “shop talk,” much to his daughter’s dismay.

Clifford battled many illnesses for almost 30 years, which required countless visits to the Brooks Hospital. The hospital staff all knew and loved Clifford; they always gave him VIP service. In return, he always loved to exchange stories, bring treats for them, and learned how to silence the IV machine alarms. He was truly a walking medical miracle, and despite his pain, he never complained or used it as an excuse.

Clifford will be greatly missed by family and friends. There will be a funeral service and then a Celebration of Life to follow on Sept 27, 2025, at the Heritage Inn at 2:00 pm in Brooks, AB. Please join us to celebrate his life, and we encourage you to share your humorous or heartfelt memories of Clifford’s journey at the Celebration of Life.

Memorial donations can be made in Clifford’s name to Stars Air Ambulance or to the Brooks Health Foundation.