Oscar "Al" Carlson, Jr.

Oscar Alton (Al) Carlson, 90, returned to his heavenly home on June 23, 2017, after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Clifton with Pastor Clay McCord officiating. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at Clifton Funeral Home.

Al was born at home near Meridian, Texas, to the late Oscar Anton and Bertha Caroline on August 7, 1926. He grew up in a large farming family and was accustom to hard work and a meager living. He was baptized at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at Norse and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Clifton. Al served in the U.S. Army from March 1944 to July 1, 1946, attaining the rank of sergeant. On September 16, 1949, he married the great love of his life, Marilyn Ann Colwick. Their union produced four children, thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1951 with a degree in business administration. In the summer of 1951, they moved to west Texas to continue farming using deep well irrigation for cotton. It was there that he accepted a high school math teaching offer. He taught math for five years and was also a principal for one year. He was blessed with a high intelligence and was a teacher at heart. Al moved his family to Arlington, Texas in the fall of 1967, where he started Sports Car Restoration. Upon Al and Marilyn’s retirement, they moved into the Peder Dahl house just west of Clifton. Shortly thereafter they renovated an old building in the downtown Clifton square to create the Clifton Antique Mall, which is still operating today under different ownership. Al was an avid user of technology later in his life. He mastered the smart phone, computer and iPad. Most days would find him spending a great deal of time on Facebook, playing bridge with players across the world, doing ancestry and historical research and connecting with old friends and relatives. It was through the Internet that Al found distant relatives in Norway. This resulted in several trips from some of those relatives in Norway to visit Al and the state of Texas. Al is survived by his children, Ron Carlson and wife, Denise of Athens, Meredith McCue and husband, David of Katy and Byron Carlson of Arlington; daughter-in-law, Margo Carlson of Temple; grandchildren Travis Carlson, Marshall Carlson, Hayley Carlson, Stacy Sadler and husband, Ray, Thomas Buck and wife, Amanda, Melissa Smith and husband, Kevin, Adam McCue, Daniel McCue and wife, Kendra, Justin McCue, Christina Corich and husband, Ian, Jasmine Holmes and husband, Chris, Casey Carlson, Erica Carlson and his 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; his parents; all his brothers and sisters and his son, Gregory Carlson.

The family gratefully declines flowers, but if you wish, donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, The Bosque Historical Museum or the Clifton American Legion.

The thing that we will remember most about dad was his great love for our mom, Marilyn. He told us often that he was the most fortunate man alive because he had her in his life. He spoke of her with the greatest respect, admiration and love. He is now lying beside her for eternity.