Clifford Earnest Fishgrab was born January 12, 1925 in Beaver, Oklahoma to W. H. and Edith Fishgrab. He grew up working in the fields, caring for livestock, and breaking horses. He served in the Army Infantry during World War II. He was saved in a foxhole during the battle of Okinawa while reading a Bible. He had seen 167 of his company killed. 

After the war he married Elsie Jenkins, a neighbor whom he had known since he was 12. They moved to Campo, Colorado where he was a building contractor and he hired a young preacher to help in his work. Charlie Yates proved to be a great influence in his life and he surrendered to preach under his ministry. Cliff and Elsie graduated from Baptist Bible College in 1961. 

They were approved by the Baptist Bible Fellowship in 1962 as missionaries to the Navajo Nation. He planted the first approved Baptist Church and conducted the first Christian wedding ever held on the reservation. He saw well over 1,600 people won to the Lord. Six Navajo men surrendered to preach and were trained by Cliff. Nine churches have been planted. 

He retired in February of 2000 due to failing health. They continued to live nearby where he could counsel and encourage the Navajo people that he loved. Cliff is survived by his wife Elsie, seven children; Donald, Carla, Anita, Keith, Terry Joe, Shari and David, 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. His funeral was held April 8, 2005 at the Kirtland Hills Baptist Church, Kirtland, New Mexico, with Scott Merritt, Bill Burkholder, and Ralph Godbey officiating.