To one of my best friends Steven “Wink” Cloward: Wink was a man that did not like a lot of people around him as he liked his quiet time, but he loved being a part of a big picture that required hard work and integrity.
Wink prided himself on his work ethic and commitment to doing a job well done. Small in stature but giant in heart and in physical ability, Wink was a man of many things that people did not know about. He was a foreman over concrete at the Delta power plant.
He was an avid shearer and prided himself in outworking anyone. He was one of the most reliable workers at the Olsen mechanic shop on Main Street in Mt. Pleasant.
He was a 30-year veteran at the coal mine, where he took great pride in what he did underground and was very particular at his job, whatever it was.
Those of you that have been in a coal mine realize how dirty it is, Wink’s truck that he drove was absolutely the cleanest one in the whole coal mine; so clean, you didn’t dare get in it!
Wink showed his religion by his giving heart; whatever he had an individual do they were paid extra and then some.
Wink was a longtime volunteer for Moroni City and was never recognized with any plaques or honored for his many hours of service and money. Wink personally paid for multiple things at the cemetery out of his own pocket.
One thing that I will always remember was him personally taking all the flags and having them washed so that they look presentable. He would replace flags that were too bad with his own money. He loved his country and always wanted to respect the veterans, especially his dad for the long war that he fought in. Wink was a true patriot!
Wink paid his tithing daily with his generous contributions. He did not want recognition, but in a way, he did want someone to notice that he was doing good in this life, which is why I’m writing this tribute for everyone to read about, so you can all know what a solid, honest, hard-working, high strung, over particular, very caring, very giving, very good son, brother, dad, grandpa, and friend to all those who knew him!
Wink was very proud of his family, and he talked continuously about his children, his upbringing, his mom and dad and all those in the community. He loved his brother, Jimmy, and their shooting abilities. Jimmy always reloaded all of Wink’s bullets; they were marksmen and all that they did, and that legacy will live on.
Wink, thank you for all the many good memories, all the gunpowder we burned together and all the life lessons you taught me. God bless you buddy, I love you! You snuck out of here without any of us telling you thank you!
I also know you and know that you would want thanks given to others, so I’m trying to do it for you.
He would have said, “Thank you, Nicole, for your compassionate service in getting my groceries every week. Thank you, Adrienne, for helping me with my finances. Thank you, neighbors for loving me and watching over me. Thank you to all my friends that I would call and talk to and watch over. God bless everyone who helped me when I was in need, please know I want to tell you that.”
Wink, if you have any pull with the heavens above, may God bless this country and all those of us that are blessed to live in it, and may we always be victorious and be able to walk through pearly gates with our heads high; just like you did. Love you, man! God bless ya!
And tell everyone hello from all of us here in this wonderful valley, it will not be the same without people like you.
Alan Morley, a good friend
Moroni
