Charles Claffey

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Charles John Claffey, 87, died Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. A native of New York, he was born Sept. 26, 1922, to Lila Shaw Claffey and Earl Almon Claffey. He was a member of the Congregational Church. He graduated from Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., with a bachelor of mechanical engineering degree. He obtained registration in the State of Tennessee as a professional engineer and was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He went to work in 1944 at the Manhattan Project, Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., for the Tennessee Eastman Corp. He worked 53 years in mechanical engineering in Oak Ridge. After retiring from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Lockheed Martin Energy System Inc.), he became interested in all sports, especially football and ice hockey. He also enjoyed reading and was interested in technical publications and the scientific field.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home in Amory. Bro. Ferman Anderson will officiate. Burial will follow at Old Union Cemetery in Okolona. Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen Frances Matthews Claffey, whom he married on Dec. 15, 1951; nephew, Herbert Earl Richardson of Colma, Calif.; niece, Melanie Ann Matthews Claffey of Mantachie; great-niece, Kathryn Michelle M. McCoy of Pearl; great-nephew, Corey Matthews Dill of Mantachie; great-great-nieces, Ashley Nichole Matthews and Hannah Frances Madison McCoy; great-niece, Brittany Anne Dill of Mantachie; great-nephews, James Allen Richardson of Norwood, N.Y., and Robert Earl Richardson of Madrid, N.Y.; two great-great-nephews, and two great-great-nieces of Madrid, N.Y.; two special "granddaughters," Lily and Jessica Ghazizadeh of Richardson, Texas; and their parents, Shannaz and Dr. M. Mahmoud Ghazizadeh.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marian Claffey Richardson; and nephews, James Allen Richardson and John Madison Matthews IV.
Pallbearers will be Jerry B. Howell, Charles L. White, Talbot K. White, Melvin Horihan, Saeid F. Davain, Sadeq Davani and Glen Rudd.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home in Amory.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Old Union cemetery.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.