Clarence Dye

C.C. Dye was born November 1, 1921 in Westphalia, Kansas, to Clarence and Olivia Dye. He died November 21, 2018 in Tucson, AZ. He is preceded in death (2005) by his wife of 59 years, Rachel Haire Dye; his brother Eliel and sister Olivia. He is survived by his daughter Angela Dye and son-in-law Robert Mather of Colorado; niece Kathy Rucinsky of St. Louis, MO (husband Tom, daughter Rachel & son Thomas, granddaughter Katherine, MIDN 2/C Naval Cadet); nephew Tom Matthews of Beulah, WY (daughters Carol, Marianne, & Nancy); nieces Pam Burnette, CA & Kathy Hocking, VA, & many loving friends and neighbors. 

C.C. will be remembered as a gentleman, a soldier, and all around wonderful guy with a great sense of humor. He served in the Marine Corps in WWII (1939-45), attaining the rank of Sgt. Maj. in 6 years. He went on to serve in the US Army (1949-1979), serving in Korea and Vietnam, retiring as a full Colonel. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medals. After retiring, he and Rachel lived in Bozeman, MT, Las Cruces, NM, and Tucson, AZ. He was personnel director for Montana State University and New Mexico State University. He loved to sail in the San Juan Islands, Washington, ride in Montana where they had a cabin for many years, and drink cognac with his neighbors and friends in Arizona. He missed his wife Rachel terribly. And we will miss him dearly.

Interment will be June 14th, Flag Day at Groton Union Cemetery at 10am. He will be laid to rest with full military honors next to Rachel in the Haire Family plot. Donations should be sent to Smile Train non-profit organization (www.smiletrain.org) or Northern State University Scholarship Fund. 

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