Dr. Laura Lee “Muggy” Polster Clifford, 38, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at South Big Horn County Critical Access Hospital in Basin.

She graduated from Sheridan High School in 1989 and worked as an optometrist.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, 3179 Big Horn Ave. in Sheridan, followed by a reception in the church foyer. Atwood Family Funeral Directors Inc. of Basin and Kane Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.

As per her wishes, her eye tissue has been donated for transplant.

Born Oct. 30, 1970, in Logan, Utah, to John James “Jack” and Sandra Lee (Hanft) Polster, she attended Sheridan schools and received her Associate of Science degree from Sheridan College in 1991. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1993 from the University of Wyoming and graduated with honors from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., with a Doctor of Optometry degree in 1997.

She worked for various optometry practices throughout the region, finally owning and operating SE Montana Eyecare in Forsyth and Colstrip, Mont.

Her latest employment was through TLC Laser Vision Correction Center in Billings and Clear Image Vision Care in Worland.

She was a member of the Wyoming Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, Montana Optometric Association (where she was on the board), and an executive for TLC.

She married Todd Clifford on April 17, 2007, in Absarokee, Mont., and they resided in Basin, where they owned and operated Valley Hardware.

Mrs. Clifford was known as a talented woman with a love for life who enjoyed any outdoor activity, helping others, her Boston terriers, and crafting.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, John E. Hanft of Dayton; her paternal grandparents, James A. and Donna E. Polster of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; and an uncle.

Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Johnna Lee Clifford of Basin; two sons, Avery John Clifford of Basin and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dana Neal Clifford of Forsyth; her parents, Sandra and Fred Prunty of Sheridan and Jack Polster of Homer, Alaska; a sister, Marsha Lee Sano of Windsor, Colo.; a brother, Keith Prunty of Fargo, N.D.; two grandmothers, Helen Lee Hanft of Dayton and Elenita Prunty of Sheridan; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Memorials may benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wyoming, P.O. Box 273, Casper, WY 82602.

The Sheridan Press - March 2, 2009.