Clifford A. (Cliff) Hix, age 88, of Pittsburg, Kansas passed away Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at his home. He was born October 27, 1934, to Myrl A. Hix and Helen E. (Tabler) Hix and was a lifelong resident of Pittsburg, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Helen L. (Hix) Stroud and one brother, Daniel Henry Hix.
Cliff attended Pittsburg Schools and was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. He was a believer in the Christian faith and became a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Frontenac, Kansas.
He found his true calling in invention, Engineering and Machining. Cliff learned his craft and developed a love of "how things work" from his father, Myrl Hix, who had a reputation for being able to build or fix anything. Myrl instilled in Cliff a desire for perfection in manufacturing and told him that "whenever you buy something, it will break. Fix it so you never have to buy it or fix it again. Whenever you make something make it so you never have to fix it." Cliff continued that tradition in everything he engineered and built.
Cliff worked as a tool maker at McNally's in Pittsburg as well as Rocketdyne in Neosho, Missouri. He later joined his brother, Dan Hix in a sports car repair business, HIX Automation, and helped it grow into the HIX Corporation where they invented and manufactured Screenprinting equipment for more than 25 years.
After selling the HIX Corporation, Cliff and his wife Judy built a new company First Edition Screenprinting, a division of Cliff Hix Engineering, Inc. He manufactured both transfers for screenprinting industry as well as equipment. Cliff considered manufacturing as both his career and his hobby and continued inventing and manufacturing until his death.
Early in his career, Cliff and his brother Dan, built and raced dragsters. Cliff was a pilot and flew his own plane. He was a member of the Kansas Pilots association. His lifelong love of Allison engines resulted in building a car with an Allison V-1710 twelve cylinder, 1200 hp liquid-cooled engine. He had a love and great admiration of all things mechanical.
Cliff loved animals and had as many as four large dogs and 7 cats at his company at any given time. He appreciated the SEK Humane Society and their dedicated work.
Cliff was married to Juanita (Knee) Bogle Hix (deceased). He has one son: Clifford D. Hix and his wife Haiqian, one grandson Desi Xing Hix of Carl Junction, Missouri and one daughter, Tammy R. Hix of Pittsburg, KS. He had two stepsons, DeWayne Bogle (deceased) and Donnie Bogle, two step daughters Diane Bogle (deceased) and Debbie Colvin; and one step-grandson Charles Colvin.
Cliff is survived by his wife Judith A. (Newland) Hix of the home: Rose Anne McCain and her husband Kevin of Miami, Oklahoma, Dr. Robin F. Wood and her husband Robert of Pittsburg, Kansas, John B. Plumlee, Esq. and his wife Anne Marie of Virginia Beach, VA, Ronda Moriarity and her husband Shawn of Topeka, Kansas and Rory E .Cucchiara and her husband Anthony of Overland Park, Kansas. He also has 9 grandchildren: Michael Munson and his wife Jadi, Walt Plumlee, Sydney Cucchiara, Kristen Munson, Jack Plumlee, Milan Cucchiara, Alexis Cucchiara, Frankie Cucchiara, CAE Wood and one great grandson Memphis Jack Munson.
Visitation and funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg. The visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m.; the Rosary at 1 p.m. followed by a Memorial funeral Mass and interment at Garden of Memories.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Frontenac, Kansas or the SEK Humane Society. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Paul Thomas Funeral Home, Miami, OK.
