Don Carlos Clayton III

Don Carlos Clayton III

1941 ~ 2016

Don Carlos Clayton III was born June 14, 1941 in Price Utah to Don Carlos Clayton Jr. and Evva Gines Clayton.  He spent a happy childhood catching horned toads and riding his bike, and playing with his friends.  He enjoyed living in Price, many happy memories there.  Later the family moved to Salt Lake and then to Bountiful where they bought the home on 400 North.

Don graduated from Bountiful High School in 1959.  Afterward he served a mission to the North Central States Mission from 1961 to 1963.  It was on his mission that he discovered how much he enjoyed teaching the Gospel.  He attended Dixie College and received an Associate Degree in 1965.

Don served his country in the military.  The Army sent him to Vietnam in 1967, while there he received “The Army Commendation Medal” for Meritorious Service in the Republic of Vietnam.  He also received the “Purple Heart” for wounds received in action.  He returned home in 1969.

His goal was to go back to school and get a degree.  He attended Brigham Young University and absolutely loved it, graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

After Graduation he worked for Hill Air Force Base for a time.

Kay Walker married Don on April 28, 1988 in the Salt Lake Temple.  They would have been married for 28 years this April.

Don had a love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  His favorite thing to do was teaching the Gospel.  He was a teacher in his High Priest Group in the LDS Church for many years.  He also enjoyed teaching the primary children.

Many people will recall seeing Don out on the roads on his bicycle.  He would be out riding almost daily.  Physical exercise was very important to him.  Don would go regularly to the Gym to left weights. He made many friends there.  Don had a goal to meet 1 new person every day; learn their name, and something about them.  He would quite often stop on his bike rides to meet people that he would see out in their yards.

Don was also a gardener.  Every summer he would have a vegetable garden and he loved to share it with family and friends.  Don was famous for his tomatoes. 

Don died on March 24, 2016 at 12:11 p.m. at the Veterans Hospital in Salt Lake.

Don is survived by his wife Kay and 5 siblings; Donna Lee Benson, Idaho, JoAnne (Kensall) Wise, Michigan, Wayne (Judy) Clayton, Idaho, Kenneth (Rebecca) Clayton, Texas, Sherrie (Scott) Oppenshaw, Draper, Utah.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at the Bountiful Tabernacle, 51 South Main Street.  A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church.  Interment at Camp Williams Cemetery.