W.T. Shumake & Daughters

Clifford Edward Tinsley, 75, of Louisville, transitioned on Thursday, November 30, 2023.

Visitation 12:00pm - 1:00pm Saturday, December 9, 2023. Funeral to follow at 1:00pm.Clifford Edward Tinsley was born November 1, 1948 in Shelbyville, Kentucky to Anderson and Mary Elizabeth Todd Tinsley. He was one of seven children born to this union.

At an early age, Clifford attended Bethel AME Church in Shelbyville, Kentucky, his hometown. Clifford, “Red”, as he was affectionately called by family and friends, graduated from Lincoln Institute in Simpsonville, Kentucky.

“Red” was full of life and tons of fun when he was in the midst of family and friends. He was the life of the party, and you could count on him to entertain you, and show you a good time. Clifford was the “King” of pranks. The “Prankster” enjoyed being creative with the ways he could trick or catch someone off guard. It was “look out” for Red, because here he comes.

Clifford was married to the love of his life, Katherine Jane Tinsley, for 57 years, and to this union four children were born, Veronica, Gerald, Kathy, and Bernica.

“Red” was a diehard U of K fan. It’s ironic that he had the nickname “Red”, because he didn’t like anything red. His favorite colors were definitely BLUE and WHITE. He probably bled “blue blood”. When he wasn’t enjoying U of K sports, he was fishing, hunting rabbits, and attending to horses.

For 41 years, Clifford was an employee at Crabtree Farms as a Horse Groomer. He had been interested in horses since he was a young boy. It was very difficult for him to give up working with horses, but after many years of service, he retired at 63 years of age.

Clifford was preceded in death by his parents, Anderson and Mary Tinsley; his older daughter, Veronica Kaye Tinsley; one sister, Dorothy Marie Tinsley; three brothers, Albert Tinsley, Willie Anderson, Raymond Tinsley; and his very special Aunt, Georgia Stone.



Clifford Edward Tinsley departed this life on November 30, 2023, and leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 57 years, Katherine Jane Tinsley; three children, Gerald Wayne Tinsley (Von), Kathy Raye Tinsley, Bernica Nico Tinsley; grandchildren, Brandon Taylor, Brian Taylor, Clifton Tinsley (Patrice), Johnathan Tinsley (Crystal), Johnica Crosby, Curtis Allen, Catherine Tinsley; two brothers, Larry Tinsley, and Arthur Tinsley; one son In-law, Chiekh Diop; a loving and devoted caregiver, Lianne Zaldvar; and a host of other family members and friends.