Clifford “Cliff” Jackson, NFMS Past President in 1971, passed away in Burley, Idaho on November 30, 2003. Cliff had been in ill health for many years, but despite this, was still an active part of the NFMS. In 1985 when no clubs came forward to host the NAFC Annual Meeting and Show, Cliff asked the Past President to help him host the show in Burley, ID. You can bet he did most of the legwork himself. He served as Chairman of the NFMS Rules Committee in 1988, Richland, WA and in 1989 at Portland, OR., which was a combined NFMS/AFMS show.

Cliff was a Master Faceter and won many regional and national awards for his beautiful faceted stones. He was a charter member and spearheaded the formation of the Intermountain Faceters Guild. He was a master machinist and made a great deal of his own faceting equipment as well as making laps of various materials for the club members and the Dave Devils. He built the machine that the Dare Devils have used to produce their beautiful giant gemstones. Cliff also belonged to the Magic Valley Gem & Mineral Society of Twin Falls, ID.

Cliff was always ready to share his knowledge. He enjoyed hosting the Intermountain Faceters meetings in Burley, and even though he was recuperating from a bad fall, took the time from his hospital room to arrange for the meeting hall. He even told some that he’d try and be at the last meeting on October 25th.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ethel Mae and their two sons who will continue to run his Metal Fabrication Company, a company that took Cliff around the world on business.