Clifford Dean Hyatt 6/28/1927 - 8/10/2023

A long-time Auburn building contractor and inventor, Clifford passed away August 10, 2023 at home with his loved ones by his side. He was born in Billings, Montana on June 28, 1927 to Harvey O. Hyatt and Harriette E. Keene. Soon after the family moved to a sugar beet ranch in Custer, Montana. After his mother passed away, they relocated to California and settled in Grass Valley. Cliff attended Grass Valley High School and Placer Junior College, where he was a member of the All-Star team in basketball. At Placer Junior College, he majored in Carpentry and began a business with his mentor, Mr. Brewer. They milled lumber at Brewer's Mill in Blue Tent (Nevada City) and built three houses on Stoddard Hill, each selling for $5,000, including the lot. He then built houses in Auburn on Russell Road, Kilham Road, Tierra Heights, in addition to developing Oakridge Subdivision I and II. Cliff met Norma Scholefield at a dance at Lake Olympia in Grass Valley in 1949. They celebrated their 73rd anniversary in June. In addition to being survived by his wife, Norma, he had three children: David Hyatt, Ronald (Jan) Hyatt, and Cynthia Levesque. He was also blessed with four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Cliff is survived by his sister-in-law, Nancy Tanner, several nieces and nephews, as well as many dear friends. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Harvey, and sisters Hattie Zwyssig, Thelma Soppe, and Donna Zahl. Cliff's work ethic never diminished, whether working at his family's sugar beet farm or years later manufacturing products on his vast machinery collection. Even in recent weeks, he was tinkering, building, repairing and developing an idea for a product to design and manufacture. He held two U.S. patents on products he designed and built. The first one was for an air-powered machine that removed bark from large logs to be used in log home construction. The second patent was created for Space Age ceramics, which was an industrial ceramic guide for commercial band saw blades. His hobbies and passions included fishing, hunting, playing the harmonica, winemaking, machine work, antique cars, traveling, attending track meets all over the country to watch his son, Ron, and years later to watch his granddaughter, Lindsay, perform. He especially enjoyed spending time at his Sierra Mountain cabin with his wife, Norma. One of his many joys was his antique cars. He restored a 1905 one-cylinder Cadillac, a 1913 French DeDion Bouton, and a 1915 Ford Model T, each taking three years to complete. He had fond memories touring with the Mother Lode Model T Club (Auburn) and the Horseless Carriage Club of America (Sacramento). Cliff was a self-made man who worked a lifetime while accomplishing countless goals, yet remained humble. At his request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to either: placerathleticalloffame.org or mailed to Placer Athletic Hall of Fame, 1191 Auburn Ravine Rd., Auburn, CA 95603. Donations will also be accepted by Sutter Auburn Faith Hospice, P.O. Box 160045, Sacramento, CA 95816.