Sad News

[trapdoor]

I received a phone call this morning, good friend, and Archery Pioneer, Cliff Coe passed away this past Sunday evening, he was 94.
  Cliff was truly one of the last remaning Archery legends here in Michigan, one of the first bowhunters to take a Newfoundland Caribou, back in 1954, which helped promote bowhunting in that region.
  Cliff was a member of the Archery Hall of Fame, and author of two books-"44 Years Behind The Bow", and a book on the history of Otter Lake.  He started building bows back in the 40's, and he once told me that he sold a few pattens for bow designs to a fella by the name of Fred Bear back in the early days- don't know if Fred ever used them.
  There is no public funeral, that was his wish, but a 21 arrow salute is being planned for the Grayling  Jamboree 2008.
  He was a true gentleman, soft spoken and humble, and I felt truly honored just to be in his presence, the man really touched my life.
  I have an old Coe bow, a real nice shooter, that Cliff signed for me just last year.  I'll be hunting with it, on opening day this year,in his honor.
  I'll truly miss him, he was a classic gent. All those who ever had the good fortune to meet Cliff know... they know that they just don't make em like that anymore, and we were certainly lucky to have such a gentleman welcome us into his life.
                 Don McKellar

[Jim Parsell]

Thanks Don, what a nice tribute to Cliff...  I'm sure he is very happy that your remembered him in such a special manner....  Jim

[dachba]

Goodbye Cliff.  We will all see you soon.  Trapdoor, I recently had a similiar experience when Merlin of Blue Cloud Archery passed on.  I still think of going to see him when I drive into town.  These old timers were really something special and really missed.

Dave in Ft. Collins, CO

[Legolas]

I celebrate his life. Hope that he is sitting at the campfire on the other side with Fred Bear.

Paul

[sticshooter]

Prayers for his family. Very nice tribute to a friend. <><

[TimZeigler]

A great attribute to the archery world, he will truly be missed.  Thanks Don.

[hill boy]

21 arrow salute is in order indeed.I regret I never had the honor of meeting cliff.

[Ghost Dog]

Beautiful.

[droptine59]

Condolences.

[Pinecone]

Wishing him a blessed passage and gentle winds to all of his family and friends.

Claudia

[George D. Stout]

Can you just imagine the get-together on the other side?  Family, friends and acquaintances, and many quivers full of arrows.  Another of our archery fathers has gone ahead.  Prayers for the family.

[BamBooBender]

That's a real nice tribute you wrote for him.My condolences and prayers for his family and friends.

[2-BIG]

I am so grateful that Don introduced me to Cliff and for taking me with him several times to visit. The first time I met him he got out his fiddle and Don played his guitar and I helped sing along.
Here is a picture of me and Dick Gardner presenting Cliff with the Michigan Traditional Bowhunters Lifetime Membership award a month ago. He was a very humble man. Don took the picture.