Doris I. Clifton

Doris Irene Clifton, 93, of Houston, DE passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025 in Bayhealth Sussex, Milford. Born in Milford, she was the daughter of the late Wright C. and Elizabeth N. (Hudson) Ward. She was a graduate of Milford High School class of 1950 and graduated from the Delaware Hospital School of Nursing in Wilmington in 1953. Doris began working as a registered nurse at Milford Memorial Hospital, where she worked for 4 years. She then went to work as the nurse at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington, where she worked for 30 years before retiring. 

During these years, she also worked the family farm located along the spillway of Haven Lake and Rt. 113 in Milford with her husband H. Donald Clifton. Their chicken farm had the distinction of being the longest hatching egg producers on the Delmarva Peninsula. In addition to working the farm together, Doris and her husband enjoyed breeding and showing champion Welsh and Pony Hunters nationally for many years. They traveled throughout the East Coast from Florida to Massachusetts with the ponies. The also collected milk bottles from the local dairy's especially from the Milford area. She was a member of the Houston United Methodist Church, the Red Hatters, and the Friends Group. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband H. Donald Clifton in 2004 and a sister Janet Elizabeth Hamilton.

She is survived by her daughter Cindy Thoroughgood (Glenn); her son Steve Clifton (Karen); 5 grandsons Jason King (Ashley), Justin King (Heather), Jamie King (Haley), Stephen Clifton (Kristyn), and Peirce Clifton (Lexi); 8 great grandchildren Caden King, Colton King, Delaney King, Chase King, Sloane King, Abbott King, Callahan Clifton and McKellen Clifton; as well as her special friends and caregivers Crystal Cramer and Jackie Figart.

Graveside services will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Hollywood Cemetery, Milford Harrington Highway, Harrington. Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Houston United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 43, Houston, DE  19954. Letters of condolence may be shared with the family at www.loflandandmcknatt.com.

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