Clifton Thomas Musgrave

Those who knew Clifton Thomas “Tom” Musgrave knew that behind the humor was a deeply curious mind, a devoted family man, a loyal friend, and a lifelong student of people, history, and the human psyche.

Tom was an intellectual by profession and by nature, devoting more than 30 years of his life as a professor of psychology at Weber State University. His quest for knowledge ended on this planet on January 20, 2026. Even in his final conscious moments, Tom was reading, a fitting close to a life defined by learning. Going anywhere with Tom meant stopping to talk with former students, because he educated generations throughout the Ogden area and never stopped caring about them.

Tom was born to Charles Clifton Musgrave and Laura Martina Grieve on December 26, 1933, the youngest and only boy of five children, Laura Mae Burke, Ezma Lewis, Joyce Miller and Charlene Jones. Tom liked to joke he'd get one sock on Christmas and one on his birthday.

He often described himself as a “Plain City boy who fell in love with a girl who lived west of the Weber River.” That girl was Sheron Bitton, his high school sweetheart and the great love of his life. Their story began on the steps of old Weber High when Tom—too shy to ask Sheron to a dance—dropped his comb. Sheron picked it up, returned it, and asked him to be her date. The two were married for nearly 65 years upon her death in 2018.

Tom worked loading blocks of ice into railroad cars, cleaned the Wonder Bread factory, launched Weber School District’s Special Education Program, taught teenagers how to drive, coached high school basketball, and eventually ended his career at Weber State University—the place he played quarterback from 1953 to 1955, when it was Weber Junior College. Most of those jobs were done side-by-side with his friend of more than 70 years, Dutch Belnap.

Tom and Sheron built a life in North Ogden with their children, Julie (David), Daniel (Me’Chel), Jedwin (Lana), Matt (Jana), and Melanie (Jefferson). The name “Thomas” is carried on through three generations, from his children to his great-grandchildren, continuing his legacy.

They traveled the world together, enjoyed 18 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, and after being apart for eight years—are finally reunited.

Tom passed surrounded by those who love him, listening to his favorite songs, Red River Valley, Too Young, Could I Have This Dance for the Rest of My Life, You Are My Sunshine, Don’t Make Me Go to Bed, and I’ll Be Good.

Tom described his life in simple terms, “I was born. I lived. I loved. I taught. And I died.”

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to Tom’s mall-walking buddy— Katie. And to his weekly breakfast crew: have an extra cup of coffee, tell a good joke and think of Tom.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring to honor Tom’s life and legacy.