On Sunday, December 13, 2020, William Clellan Hefner passed away from his earthly home into the loving hands of his Lord and Savior at the age of 81. Clellan was born on September 7, 1939 to Alvin William Hefner and Charlotte Tyrone Posey Hefner in Boaz, AL. He lived his entire life in the Union Community area of Boaz, AL. As a child, he attended Beulah School, Center Point in the Aroney Community and later years at Boaz and Crossville schools. As a young man, he worked for local car dealers hauling cars from Chicago to Marshall County, AL. Clellan worked various jobs to help support his family. At the age of twenty he began working for the McElrath Poultry Processing Plant in Albertville. In 1959 he met the love of his life, Nancy Putman, and they married April 16, 1960. Together they shared 60 wonderful years of marriage. They were blessed with three children, son William Keith Hefner (Pam) of Huntsville, daughters Sheila Hefner Duvall (Terry) and Patricia Hefner Martinez (Bob) both of Boaz to which he left a lasting legacy and a lifetime of wonderful memories.
In 1963 he began his career with the U.S. Government at the Anniston Army Depot. Clellan worked there until 1969 and then transferred to the Boaz Post Office. He later served as the Postmaster at Geraldine Post Office and then finished his career at Boaz until his retirement in 2000. In all things great and small Clellan took great pride, in which his accomplishments reflected that. After his retirement, he enjoyed raising cattle, mowing lawns, gardening, performing handy-man work, and traveling. He was blessed to have visited all forty-eight of the mainland states. However, his favorite activity was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Clellan was a member of several organizations including the Boaz Masonic Lodge where he received his 50-year pin and served in various leadership roles. He was also a member of the Scottish Rites, Boaz Oddfellows and was a Boy’s Scoutmaster. But his greatest role in service was that of an ordained deacon. He was ordained in 1981 and was an active member of Sardis Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his granddaughter Kelsey Nicole Hefner, brothers Melvin Ray and Coys Wayne Hefner, and his mother and father-in-law, Rev. W. Henry Putman and Lillian Nabors Putman.
“Paw-Paw” will be greatly missed by his grandchildren: Hannah Duvall Bevel (John) of Albertville, Micah Duvall (Alaina) of Boaz, Jillian Hefner Boone (Dr. Tyler) of Nashville, TN, Anna Claire Hefner of Dallas, TX, Eli A. Martinez of Boaz, John Robert Martinez of Albertville and Jessica Martinez of Tuscaloosa. Great-grandchildren Madalyn Faith Bevel, Julia Reese Young, Landon Matthew Young, Sarah Grace Bevel and soon expected (Collier Ross Boone).
Visitation will be at McRae Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at 11:30am until the time of the funeral service at 2:00pm with Rev. Mike Goforth, Bro. Doyce Putman and Bro. Dewey Champion officiating. Interment will follow at the Union Cemetery. Pallbearers will be the Deacons of Sardis Baptist Church. Music will be provided by Sardis Baptist Church Men’s Quartet with accompanist Mrs. Donna Goforth. The family requests adherence to the current health restrictions of masks and social distancing. Please save your hugs and handshakes for healthier and happier times.
A special thanks to Dr. Alan Calhoun, Dr. Jenna Carpenter, Dr. Evan Johnson and the I.C.U. nurses at Marshall Medical Center South for their exceptional care.
Flowers will be accepted or donations in his memory may be made to Union Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 428 Boaz, AL. 35957 or Sardis Baptist Church 1501 Church St. Boaz, AL 35956.
The service for Mr. Hefner will be available live streaming on McRae Funeral Home’s Facebook page.
