For anyone who knew Ross, you probably knew that he loved to tell a good story. As he made the decision to end dialysis, we were blessed to be here as so many friends and loved ones came to say goodbye. Without fail, each person that came had at least one different story that stuck in their minds about him, and even different people who shared the same events had different memories.
As his family, we have so many memories and stories of him, but we'd love to have your help in completing his story. If you have a favorite memory of him, we would love to hear it. It can be sad, it can be touching, and if it involved Dad, it could very likely be just plain hilarious.
We love you all and thank you for making his story complete.
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Well i do not have a story.. But, If my memory serves me right i met him at my brother and sister in law's wedding. My brother is married to his niece Lindsay. I want to say i admire the love and closeness of the Clayton Family and that extends to his family (the one he raised) and the closeness he had with his brother's and there families and his sister and her family. I have always heard so many wonderful things about him. I know he will be missed.
ReplyDeleteI have so many stories of my Uncle Ross... where to begin. I remember many of our family reunions over the past 25 years and can say that Uncle Ross was always there with so much energy and excitement, rain or shine he made the trip to be with family. He was always ready to tell a story and sing a song with his guitar at a moment’s notice. Ross was so talented in so many ways and one was, to make all the kids laugh. Growing up we would make yearly trips to Utah to visit and they were always filled with so many memories of Ross sitting all the kids down to tell a story. Never a dull moment in the Ross Clayton house. I remember one story in particular, Ross told a riddle of a lemon tree in a desert and a boy. That story has stuck with me for many many years and I will never forget him telling it as we sat around for hours trying to figure it out while he patiently repeated the riddle over and over again. Ross was such a loving and kind person. He was always smiling even when he didn’t feel up to par. Ross had such an optimistic view on life and I’m sure he learned if from his amazing mother, my Grandma Beth. Ross will be greatly missed and our family reunions will have a tiny hole without him.
ReplyDeleteWe were driving back to St. George from Seattle when we heard of Ross' passing. We have had so many great experiences with Ross and family over the years that it is hard to single out one. We had many sing-a-longs over a campfire. Ross had a voice like Burl Ives and we will never forget his rendition of Bobby McGee...a classic. Then there were those crazy Haloweens when we all dressed up in costumes and walked around the neighborhhod picking up other people. Ross dressed up as a big yellow pencil. Back at our house we had a visitor arrive who no one knew; clean shaven and in a suit and tie. It took even Ross a few minutes to recognize his cousin, Jim Despain. None of us had ever seen him without a beard...especially in a suit. It was a most memorable experience. With all the fun experiences what we remember most about Ross is his kind heart, gentle nature and positive attitude and sense of humor in the face of trials and hardships. We will all miss him
ReplyDeleteWe are so sorry to hear about your loss. We know he will be missed by many. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteAaron and Nan (Cutler) Malmstrom Family
My mother (Janice Vick) is Ross' cousin, so I guess I am a second cousin.
ReplyDeleteI remember getting to know Ross better at the Ross family reunions. He was always so friendly, easy going and basically a joy to be around.
One time I remember he pulled out his guitar while we all sat around the campfire. He started singing silly songs, one about a rooster who "came into his yard" Hillarious! The other song was called D-I-V-O-R-C-E, which he sang with a heavy southern twang. I never laughed so hard and I never forgot either of those songs. We were all slapping our knees and whipping tears from our eyes. He could really entertain a crowd. I'll bet the family that has gone before him are going to be having some really fun campfires up there in the Spirit World. I know his Mom and others will be so happy to have him back.
I'm so sorry for you Marilyn and all of the kids. If I could come I would give you all a big hug and tell you how much I love you all. I will be praying for your family to feel the comfort and love from our Lord that you all need right now.
love and kisses,
Jill Heffner
Bonnie Despain:
ReplyDeleteRoss and Marilyn came into my life within weeks of Jim’s arrival so I have always considered it a package deal. Ross is Jim’s longtime friend and Marilyn is a first cousin. Lucky for me. I am so grateful that I got folded into the mix.
Over the last 40 years we have so many experiences, most wonderful and some not so much so. We have camped, traveled, pulled weeds, painted rooms, cleaned ovens, shopped for guitars, plotted job charts for the kids, changed diapers, attended concerts and family reunions and marveled that Marilyn could probably fix the washer better than Ross. Ross even sold us our house during his real estate tycoon period. We have laughed, cried, shaken our heads and never had a major disagreement. Josh has fallen out of their tree, Cara has worn Kim’s outgrown dresses, Ken was once lifted through our kitchen window to get some needed ketchup when we were not home, We regularly put things in their freezer and tools switched homes so many times we forgot where they really did live. They fed our cats and we fed their dogs. With the help of another ward member, we even smuggled the kids into the hospital to see Ross and Marilyn after the Accident.
We are all aware of the tremendous health challenges Ross has faced nearly his whole life. As Jim puts it, “He has had every disease known to man and then some.”
But that is so NOT the essence of the man we all love. We think of Ross first and foremost with the joy and laughter and a twist of mischief with which he faced life. The memories we have of our times together are full of all of those. Ross was just one of those people who makes life more enjoyable.
Friday night regularly found us at Ross and Marilyn’s playing cards. Once we were well into a major game of Pinochle and Ken came sleepily toddling into the kitchen. Not long into talking in complete sentences, he carefully looked around the table and announced “Two of these people should go home.”
Several of our camping trips turned into adventures. One of the first included a stop on a sand bar along the Colorado when we were attacked by a sudden wind storm. Our small tent blew out of the ground and over the hill. After retrieving it and starting back to camp we could hear Ross calling. “Jim. Jim!” He was in the big tent, stretched from corner to corner doing his best to keep it anchored. The four of us slept in the tent that night with our oldest kids spread across the remaining space at the bottom of our feet. In the middle of the night Ross got up and when he came back I heard him whisper, “Marilyn. I don’t have a place to be.”
A few years and several kids later we were in Snow Canyon. This time it was thunder, lightning and rain. As the thunder bounced back and forth between the cliffs, Josh rolled over and asked if the volcanoes were going off. The next morning we could see where the run off had cut a path right under one side of Clayton’s tent and out the other side. Judging by how wet Debi’s sleeping bag was, I don’t think all the water made it under the tent. One of their kids (Danny?) slept through the whole thing.
Ross was a great story teller and often preferred the fun of a story even if the real facts were easier. One night he drew the fireside group into this long tale and led us all believing fully right up to the sucker punchline. He had us completely convinced. He also convinced his dad that he had no idea why the teenagers punched him in the mouth and ruined all his braces. He just managed not to mention the snowball he threw at their car.
Back in the days when the adults made the rounds after the kids were finished trick-or-treating, it must have been a challenge to disguise Ross. One year was particularly successful when Marilyn showed up with a very tall and thin pencil. If they hadn’t come together, we might not have figured it out.
It is going to take all of us a while to figure out what comes now. We will miss Ross tremendously, but we also know how tremendously fortunate we were to have shared life with this fun-loving, caring, gentle man.
Back when Ken and I were in high school, we met this girl during the annual March of Dimes walk in Sugarhouse. Several months after the walk, I wanted to ask her to the Christmas high school dance, but couldn’t figure out a clever way to ask her.
ReplyDeleteKen and I sat in the Clayton’s living room talking about different ways to ask her, but nothing seemed to be clever enough. Ross apparently over heard our discussions, and came in with a suggestion. He offered to dress up in his Santa suit and show up at her front door with a present asking her to the dance. However, through further discussion, Ross came realize that the girl’s parents were long time friends of his he hadn’t seen in many, many, years. This sent the wheels spinning in Ross’s head and brought a huge smile of “mischievousness” to his face.
The night of “fun” arrived and off to holiday Ken and I went with “Santa” driving. We laughed and made jokes about the fore coming surprise all the way there. Ken and I hid in the bushes as Ross proceeded to the front door. Very young girl, apparently one who still believed in Santa, answered the door and let Santa in. This is where the “smile of mischievousness” began to play out beautifully.
Ross had included in his Santa sack a present for everyone in the family. As each child in the family, from youngest to oldest (who happened to be the girl I was asking to the dance), sat on Ross’s lap; he proceed to relate story after story about the parents childhood past. With each story of the past the looks on the parents face became more and more frozen and they desperately tried so hard to figure out how Santa new so much about them. He never let on who Santa was. It was absolutely hilarious.
To me…this was the true Ross Clayton. He loved to joke and have fun with us as we were growing up. He was a great part of my life as one of Ken’s friends. He is truly one of our Heavenly Father’s servants of happiness.
You will be missed.
Not much in the way of stories, but I do know how much I loved the Clayton family and how much they meant to me while growing up in the area. Definitely one of the more fun families of my childhood.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences go out to each of you. May our Father in Heaven bless you all in this time of mourning and please know how much we all cherish this family.
Ross is definitely a special chosen spirit of our Father in Heaven and I am thankful for the opportunity I've had to know him and his family.
So many wonderful memories of Uncle Ross! I will always remember the last day we got to see him. We were all sitting around him and we were telling stories. He was smiling and laughing, which is always the way I remember him. He was always so happy and always smiling. I remember him at the Ross Family reunions always playing with us kids and always having so much energy! I remember him playing the guitar and singing and how much we loved it. And oh his stories, he was always telling a great story! I used to love when we'd come and visit the Ross Clayton home and how much fun we would have. Uncle Ross is so wonderful and I will always remember his outlook on life...Find Joy in Everything! Love you Uncle Ross! I know you are so happy where you are...and you are having some wonderful reunions! Miss you so much and can't wait until we can see you again!
ReplyDeleteSo, Tuesday morning i am getting ready to walk out my door and do some missionary work, when all of a sudden a get a call from my Dad telling me that Ross had passed away. The first thing that came to me was sadness but then i was overcome with joy to know that we would get to see Ross again and that he was pain free and defiantely in a happy place. The number one thing i remember about Uncle Ross is that he was always happy and had such a positive outlook on life. Any bad situation could and would be turned into a good one. Also, whenever he would laugh or joke, he was the same as my Dad, jolly and joyful! So we should take his example and not be grieved but excited to see him again. Thanks to our Savior Jesus Christ, we WILL see Ross again, and it will be a wonderful time. Ross made a definate impact on others lives and this quote comes to mind....Heroes live forever, but Legends never die. Ross was a hero and legend to me and i am thankful for the love and joy he showed. Love you Ross.
ReplyDeleteElder Samuel Jesse Clayton
Canada Halifax Mission April 2010
Jesus knew about the condition of the dead, infact, when his best friend Lazarus died Jesus "wept," for Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days and about to smell. Then he cried out with a loud voice: "Lazarus come out!" and the stone rolled away and Lazarus came out. In the very near future billions will be resurrected on a paradise earth when sickness and death will be a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteDiane J Smith 04/14/10
Seeing Ross's picture in the newspaper brought back many happy memories. I taught with Ross at Crescent View Middle School several years ago. Our pod had three open classrooms and one self-contained room. Ross taught Spanish in that room so that the hubbub from the surrounding classes would not disrupt his students' learning. However, he would sometimes get his guitar out and sing songs with his students in Spanish. Whenever that happened, my reading students would stop what they were doing to listen to the music. They were jealous that the Spanish class seemed to be having more fun than the Reading class.
ReplyDeleteI remember listening to his stories of growing up near the old Highland Drive-in Theatre. He said it was a great place to live except for the times he got into mischief. He told the story about some of the priests in his ward who would look out over the congregation when they were at the Priest's table during Sacrament Meeting and then leave the meeting and go into the homes of the people who were at church just to look around. He assured me that nothing was ever taken; they just wanted to see how other people lived.
One time, he was trying to sell a "classic" car but no one seemed interested. He decided to park it at a lot out west and immediately got an offer on the car. He always told me that to be successful you had to know your clientel. It worked for him when he was selling a car and when he was teaching students.
Finally, I looked forward each year to Christmas because Ross would dress up and hand out treats to the faculty. One year he even came to our home and surprised me and my family with a visit from Santa Claus.
Ross was a great teacher, a colleague, and a friend. I enjoyed his fun personality, his ready smile and his non-judgmental attitude. He was a great guy!
Karen Gasparac Dissel
I took the liberty of copying some of the messages left on my dad's obituary, before the took it offline. Thanks for all your support!
ReplyDelete~Kim
APRIL 13, 2010
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My condolences to you and your family Ross was a great man and I have lots of good memories of him
~ Rick Larrabee, Kearns, Utah
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Marilyn,
I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband. But I know the last few years his health hasn't been the best. Our love and prayers goes to you and your family at this time and may you have the comfort of the spirit to be with you all at this time.
Robyn Gordon
and Bingham Cafeteria Workers ____________________________________________
My prayers & thoughts go out to your family at the time of your loss. I worked with Ross at Garrett Freight Lines many years ago. What a great man he was to be around and I'm greatful I had the opportunity to have known him and work with him. I have many great memories from our relationship.
~ John Spevak, Cedar city, Utah
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Marilyn,
My warmest wishes to you and your family as you grieve the passing of your husband and father. My thoughts are with you all.
~ Ellie Oman Campbell, Sandy, Utah
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Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
~ KAURI SUE HAMILTON NUTRITION STAFF
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My thoughts and prayers are with you and your familiy(S) at this time of sorrow and grief. May the gospel of Jesus Christ bring you all comfort. Stay close to eachother as a family always and take care of eachother.
~ Heidi Richhart, Magna, Utah
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My deepest condolences. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
Steve Cutler
~ Steve Cutler, South Jordan, Utah
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Our prayers are with all of you at this difficult time.
Love to all..
Lou & Ginger Lynes
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I was just thinking about Ross the other day and was wondering how he was. After teaching with him at Crescent View Middle School for almost 9 years in the foreign language department, I grew to love and respect him as a great friend and as one of my favorite colleagues ever. My thoughts and prayers are with you, his wonderful family, that the Lord will bless you with peace. Warmest regards & deepest sympathy.
Anne Crane, French teacher
~ Anne Crane, Payson, Utah
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Dear Marilyn and Your Wonderful Family,
We are going to miss Ross and his eternal smile and good nature. It brought sadness to our hearts to hear of Ross crossing to the other side of the veil. There is also a peace felt as he has been released from pain and suffering. He is an outstanding man with a great big heart to love all those around him. His knowledge of the Spanish language is phenomenal. He has blessed our lives immensely. May you feel his presence often and know that he cares deeply for you and your family.Marilyn, you have always been the light of his life, and ours, too.
Love,
~ Karen & Doug Larrabee, Cottonwood Hts, Utah
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APRIL 14, 2010
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Marilyn, Our prayers and memories are full right now. May you feel the Lords arms around you. We'll see ya Friday.
Necia and Larry
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MARILYN & FAMILY you have my condolences on the passing of ross I worked at garretts with him and he came to my family xmas partys a lot i know he will be missed i remember some of his stories
DANIEL O TRIPP
~ DANIEL TRIPP, STANSBURY, Utah
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Ross was my favorite cousin.. He accomplished much and it appears he had a rich life. I always regretted that all of the decendants of Melvin Happy Clayton decided to go their seperate ways. I often thought of Ross throughout my life.
Jerry Cupp, son of Ross's Aunt Mildred Clayton
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Marilyn and family,
I am very sorry to hear of Ross's passing. I worked with Ross for many years at Crescent View Middle School. I grew to know Ross as a caring man and teacher; students would often tell me about their good experiences in his classes. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
~ Denise Pfeiffer, Murray, Utah
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April 15, 2010
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Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Ross was a good man. Dan Hunter and family Castledale Ut
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Ken and Angela,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please accept my deepest condolences.
Marty Shaw
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Dan and Angela, I am truly sorry to hear about the passing of your Father. I understand the void this places in your life loosing a parent. Rejoice in his love and light. He is with you still. May the abundance of love surround you and see you through these tough times.
With sympathy, Melody Bustillos
~ Melody Bustillos, SLC, Utah
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Dear Marilyn and Family,
Edy and I send you our prayers and deepest sympathy at Ross's passing. Ross and I taught together at Crescent View for many years and I thoroughly enjoyed the many conversations we had during those years. He had a quick wit with a ready laugh and he was patient beyond belief in letting me practice my Spanish with him! One year when our kids were both much younger than they are now,, he surprised us by stopping by our house and visiting with the kids in his December alter ego. He gave our two sons one powerful, life-long memory! He was in so many ways a giant among men!
May our Heavenly Father be with you and comfort you in the weeks and days ahead. We hope our own prayers for you all will bring you a sense of peace and comfort as you learn to move ahead without him here now.
Patrick McGee
~ Patrick McGee, Cottonwood Heights, Utah
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Dear Marylin,
I really sorry to hear about your husband. I know hard it is to lose someone so dear to you. But it always good to know that we will be seeing our loves again. I hope the you can find some peace and comfort at this time and know that there are many people that love you and care for you, especailly at this time of your morning. I'm sorry that I was unable to come to your viewing and give my condolences for I'm doing the same thing. I had a family member passing also. May God be with you and your family.
Love
Cindee Sommer
Itineris High School
~ Cindee Sommer, West Jordan, Utah
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April 18, 2010 (last, but CERTAINLY not least!)
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Marilyn, I am so proud of you and Ross. Since that night over 30 years ago when you were both hit crossing 27th South, you have worked together to conquer so many challenges. It has been a privilege to be in your home. May you have a constant sense of partnership with Ross in all that the future brings.
To Ken, Cori, Debi, Calli, Dan and Kim, I say how much I love your dad. Go out of your way to be with your mother. Share your lives with her. Let your children continue to know your dad through you.
Janet, Tracey and I send our love to you from Australia.
With appreciation (for all that Ross did for me),
Marshall
~ Marshall Brough, Cottonwood Heights, Utah
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Clayton Family,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your father with us all. And Kim thanks for posting and taking the condolences and comments from the obituary for everyone to see. May you always have our father in heaven's spirit with you all.