Clifton Lee Stockton, 32, of Fairview Heights died in an utimely tragic fire Monday, October 25, 2011 at his home on Old Lincoln Trail in Fairview Heights. He succumbed to the heavy smoke and became trapped inside the home. Firefighters and emergency personnel were unable to revive him when he was removed from the smoldering house. The heartbreak of Stockton’s early demise was recounted in feature headline announcements on Channel Fox2/KTVI, Channel 4/KMOV, Channel 5/KSDK and Channel 11/KPLR television stations in St. Louis. 

He was born May 7, 1979, son of Stanton Stockton and Dr. Patresa Stockton, who survived him in Centralia. 

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a daughter, Cailey Stockton and her mother, Misty Maxey, both of Carlyle; a brother, Derrick Stockton and wife Jennifer of Centralia; two sisters, Dayna Stockton Coker and husband Stan of Montgomery, Alabama, and Dynese Stockton Keith and husband Randy of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; two nieces, Miranda Keith and Tia Coker; several uncles, aunts, cousins and a host of friends. 

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, John Bernard and Hazel Owens of King City, Missouri; and paternal grandparents, Clayton and Cuma Stockton of Maysville, Missouri.

Mr. Stockton was a 1995 graduate of Centralia High School. He earned a water treatment certification degree and served his apprenticeship at the Centralia Water Plant. He also earned a Bachelor degree in Business Accounting from Southern Illinois University. 

He worked as a car topper track mobile operator on the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroads for Herzog Contractors of St. Joseph, Missouri until the birth of his daughter. Since then, he was employed at Grossman Iron and Steel Recycling of St. Louis as a truck driver. 

On February 19, 2009, Cliff alerted the policed of a missing three-year-old kidnapped girl, Cheyenne Ross, being held at Kingdom City, Missouri. Through his actions, the little girl was reunited with her mother from Cameron, Missouri. The following month, he was honored by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Sheriff’s Association, and the Cameron Missouri City Police Department as the "Missouri Hero of 2009".

He enjoyed water sports, three-wheeling, conoeing, and cruising on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and he especially enjoyed riding horses. He took immense pleasure and participation in his daughter’s school activities and accomplishments. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. He will be remembered as a loving father to his daughter, a wonderful son and brother, and a great friend. He will be sadly missed by all. 

A private family service will be held Saturday, October 29, 2011, at the Stockton farm in Fairport, Missouri. Per Mr. Stockton’s request, he will be cremated and the spreading of his ashes will follow at the farm. 

Friends may come from 6 to 9pm today (Friday 10/28) at St. Louis Cremation Chapel in St. Louis. He will be honored through pictures and artifact remembrances at a memorial table. Everyone attending is invited to bring any contributions to the table if they desire.

A memorial stone with his urn and a picture of him and his daughter will be placed at his maternal mother’s family cemetery in Berlin, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions of the "Cailey Stockton Scholarship Fund" at People’s Bank in Centralia.

Condolences may be e-mailed to DrStonewall@aol.com or posted on the guestbook below.