Clifford Douglas Hart III, who was born on January 1, 1943, in Fort Worth, Texas, and died on June 14, 2026, at Clyde Cosper State Veterans Home, is remembered as a loving and adventurous man whose life was marked by skill, humor, and a deep devotion to the people and passions he held dear.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Mr. Hart carried the spirit of North Texas with him throughout his life. After graduating from high school, he answered the call to serve his country by joining the Navy, where he gained valuable training on a nuclear submarine. That experience would help shape the course of his working life and establish the foundation for a career built on practical knowledge, hard work, and dependable craftsmanship. After he left the Navy he spent the rest of his career as a HVAC contractor and could fix pretty much anything in front of him. 

Beyond his professional life, Clifford  was a skilled woodworker who took pride in making pens and bowls, demonstrating patience and precision in every piece he created. He also loved to cook and became especially well known for his lemon cheesecake. Whether preparing a meal or shaping wood into something beautiful, he brought care and personality to everything he touched.

His interests extended well beyond work and the kitchen. He enjoyed being with family, loving his pets, and when he wasn't on the submarine, he spent his time in Key West scuba diving. He was also deeply fascinated by mechanics and construction, and he spent time building cars, motorcycles, and go-carts. He once built a go- cart that could reach speeds up to 90 MPH. He was known as a thrill seeker and a jokester, someone who enjoyed a good laugh and knew how to make life more fun for the people around him. 

Clifford leaves behind a devoted sister, Mary Hart (Linda Reyes-Hart), son, Clifford Douglas Ziebell, daughter, Barbara Theofildes, nephews, John Douglas Keen, Joshua Grant, McMurray, niece, Tammy Lynn Baker, cousins, Patty Stevens, Larry Petta, Jeanneane Keene, Robert Chandler, and Suzann Resnick, and an extended family of many nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Anna Hart, sisters, Elizabeth McMurray, Barbara Guinn Hammons, and niece Phyllis Russell.

A celebration of life with Military Honors will be July 19, 2026 at The Copper Wall, 1137 Burton Hill Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76114 at 3:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to Mercy Ships, a cause that he was very passionate about, https://www.mercyships.org/.