Shaun David Radcliffe

March 6, 1963 - May 8, 2020

Obituary for Shaun David Radcliffe Shaun David Radcliffe was born in Hampton, Virginia on March 6th, 1963. He lived in Virginia, Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Shaun spent his childhood in the country outside of Battle Creek, MI before moving to Chattanooga as a teenager. He has lived many years “on the road”, but Chattanooga was home to him. 40 of his 57 years were spent dedicated to his children and career. He passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack on Friday, May 8th, 2020. Shaun was deeply loved and widely appreciated by many. Shaun started working full time in the moving business when he became a father at the young age of 17 and came to be known as the hardest-working man in his line of work. He was the recipient of both the Scroll of Honor and Customer Service Award from Atlas Van Lines several times, which is a testament to his unique level of professionalism. Shaun was known to do “whatever it takes” to get a job done right and always had a smile on his face. As a mentor to others, he provided guidance and training that changed and shaped the lives of many people. Shaun was passionate about food, geography, jokes, and music. He especially loved American, Italian, and Mexican cuisine and was a BBQ connoisseur. Cooking was one of his favorite pastimes, and he was great on the grill and in the kitchen. His family loved going to restaurants, cooking, and hanging out on the porch with him. He loved to tell about his travels and made sure his children knew about the places he had been - this included state capitals, landmarks, and historic highways. Shaun was a serious teller of jokes, and he lived to make us all laugh. A true child of Rock, he loved listening to and sharing music with his family and friends. Johnny Cash, Rory Gallagher, and Chris Cornell were his favorite musicians for decades. Shaun was an eternal optimist with a kind heart, a deep soul, and an unparalleled work ethic. He will live on in our memories as well as through his legacy. He is survived by his 4 grandchildren, 3 daughters, his parents, 3 of his siblings, his nieces and nephews, and all others whose lives he has touched. A private memorial service for immediate family will be held at a later date, as well as a larger celebration of his life and legacy. Shaun’s Family Grandchildren: Heron Grey Eaton, Maela Aster Kestrel Brod, Maeve Nicole Hillhouse, and Bodhi Cain Buttram. Daughters: Carrie Amanda Radcliffe and husband Mike Brod of Clayton, Georgia; Ivy Hope Radcliffe and husband Nick Hillhouse of Marietta, Georgia; and Madelynne Radcliffe and Josh Buttram of Henagar, Alabama. Parents: Bill and Peggy Radcliffe of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Brothers: Scott Radcliffe of Roswell, Georgia, and Eric Radcliffe of Chattanooga, Tennessee Sister: Kelly Smith of Fishersville, Virginia. Shaun was preceded in Death by his eldest brother, William Foster Radcliffe (1959-1988). Quotes “Whatever it takes” - Team Radcliffe “What would Shaun do?” - Anyone that worked with him “I’ve traveled every road in this here land” - Johnny Cash “I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky I am not your blowing wind I am the lightning I am not your autumn moon I am the night” - Audioslave “Say hello to heaven” - Temple of the Dog “Summer nights and long warm days Are stolen as the old moon falls And the mirror shows another face Another place to hide it all And I'm lost, behind The words I'll never find And I'm left behind As seasons roll on by Sleeping with a full moon blanket Sand and feathers for my head Dreams have never been the answer And dreams have never made my bed Dreams have never made my bed And I'm lost, behind The words I'll never find And I'm left behind As seasons roll on by Now I want to fly above the storm But you can't grow feathers in the rain And the naked floor is cold as hell The naked floor reminds me That I'm lost, behind The words I'll never find And I'm left behind As the seasons roll on by If I should be short on words And long on things to say Could you crawl into my world And take me worlds away Should I be beside myself And not even stay And I'm lost, behind The words I'll never find And I'm left behind As seasons roll on by” - Chris Cornell “This hotel bar is full of people, the piano man is really laying it down. The old bartender is a high as a steeple, so why tonight should I wear a frown? Million miles away, I'm a million miles away. I'm sailing like a driftwood on a windy bay. Why ask how I feel? How does it look to you? I feel hook, line and sinker, I lost my captain and my crew. I'm standing on the landing, there's no one there but me. That's where you'll find me, looking out on the deep blue sea. This hotel bar is full of people, the piano man is really laying it down. The old bartender is a high as steeple, so why tonight should I wear a frown? The joint is jumping all around me and my mood is really not in style. Right now the blues want to surround me but I'll break out after a while. Well, I'm a million miles away, I'm a million miles away. I'm sailing like a driftwood on a windy bay. Why ask how I feel, well, how does it look to you? I feel hook line and sinker, I lost my captain and my crew. I'm standing on the landing and there's no one there but me. That's where you'll find me, looking out on the deep blue see. There's a song on the lips of everybody, there's a smile all around the room. There's conversation overflowing, so why must I sit here in the gloom? This hotel bar lost all its people, the piano man has caught the last bus home. The old bartender is asleep in the corner, so why must I still be here, I don't know. Well, I'm a million miles away, I'm a million miles away. I'm sailing like a driftwood on a windy bay.” - Rory Gallagher “Yeah, come on!” - Shaun “You wired me awake And hit me with a hand of broken nails You tied my lead and pulled my chain To watch my blood begin to boil But I'm gonna break I'm gonna break my I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run Yeah I'm gonna break I'm gonna break my I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run Too cold to start a fire I'm burning diesel burning dinosaur bones Yeah I'll take the river down to still water and ride a pack of dogs But I'm gonna break I'm gonna break my I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run I'm gonna break I'm gonna break my I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run Hit like a Phillips head into my brain It's gonna be too dark to sleep again Cutting my teeth on bars and rusty chains I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run When the forest burns along the road Like God's eyes in my headlights When the dogs are looking for their bones And it's raining ice picks on your steel shore I'm gonna break I'm gonna break my I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run Yeah I'm gonna break I'm gonna break my I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run” - Soundgarden