Clayton Eugene Memmott
June 11, 1943 - January 19, 2013
BOUNTIFUL, UT-Three and one-half weeks after celebrating
Christmas with all of his children and most of the grandchildren/great
grandchildren, Clayton Eugene Memmott left us unexpectedly after a five year
struggle with his health. He passed on to a marvelous reunion with his parents
and family members who preceded him in death. A glorious reunion it was indeed,
as he worked many years in strengthening family ties through his work in the
Memmott Family Organization by gathering, organizing and writing the family
history, one ancestor at a time. He died on Saturday, January 19, at 11:30 am
at Lakeview Hospital, where the doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to save
his life. He was born on June 11, 1943 at the Salt Lake Regional Hospital to
Maurine Verdell Kjelstrom and Arthur Eugene Memmott. He was the first of nine
children and was raised in both Salt Lake City and in various cities in
California. Clayton was baptized on the 23rd of April, 1952 in Salt Lake City
at the Salt Lake Tabernacle and Confirmed on May 4th, 1952. During his life,
Clay held many church callings which included Sunday School Counselor, Family
History Consultant, High Priest Group Secretary, Ward Historian, etc.
While stationed at Malmstrom, AFB, Great Falls Montana,
Clayton met Mary Ellen Russell at a LDS Church dance, and from there they
twirled through forty-nine years of a joyful loving marriage. They were married
at the Great Falls First Ward in Great Falls MT. on October 19, 1963 and later
endowed, married, and sealed for all time and eternity at the Cardston,
Alberta, Canada Temple on January 15, 1977. From 1963-1979, they lived in Great
Falls, Montana (where their first- born, Kimberly was born in 1964 at Malmstrom
AFB.), with the exception of a three year Air Force deployment (1965-1968) to
Anchorage Alaska (where Kristine and Matthew were born on Elmendorf AFB).
Clayton and his family moved to West Bountiful, Utah in the
summer of 1979. In 1980, Tyrel was born. When Mary's parents needed caregiving,
they built a home in Centerville, Utah (1984) where he helped care for Mary's
father (until his death in 1985) and her mother until her death in 2004. He
cared for them as if they were his own parents. You could find Clay regularly
visiting his parents, grandparents aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters while he
was well. He always held family ties as a close and personal blessing.
Clayton spent 16 years in the United States Air Force,
discharged as a TSGT (E-6) and received several Air Force Commendation Medals.
The award recorded, "Staff Sergeant Clayton E. Memmott distinguished
himself by meritorious service while assigned as a Noncommissioned Officer in
Charge from 1 Jan. 1970- 30 Nov. 1971. During this period he consistently
demonstrated outstanding technical knowledge and leadership abilities in the
performance of his duty.
His innate management ability and insistence upon
professionalism were important contributing factors to the mission
effectiveness of his organization. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant
Memmott reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force." For
the last 8 years in the Air Force, Clay served as an USA Air Force recruiter.
After his discharge, Clayton owned and operated Montgomery Ward Catalog store
in Bountiful, Utah. He then worked at Hill AFB until 1992 when he retired from
the US government.
Clay was called to serve as Vice-President in the Memmott
Family Organization in 1985. When first called he said, "I am humbled by
this call and feel very inadequate, so will need a lot of help. I am very
interested in learning more about my roots and will do all I can to support the
fine programs on the agenda. Thanks for giving me a chance to serve." All
together he provided 27 years of outstanding service as Vice- Pres. President,
Bulletin Editor, and Genealogist for the organization up until his death in
2013. He made Family History his life ambition and loved the service he was
able to give. Clayton was interested in movies and served as an extra on
several, "Touched By An Angel" episodes and on, the movie, "The
Stand." He also was involved in politics and served as a Delegate to the
Utah State Republican convention in 1994 and 2000.
Family was extremely important to Clayton. He made sure that
he was always there for them extremely honest, kept his word, helped when he
could, and loved the sound of his children laughing and was frustrated during
his illness because he could not serve as he desired. He had four years of
college and was an avid reader which led to his remarkable knowledge and
memory. Clayton leaves behind his wife, Mary E. Memmott; daughters, Kimberly A.
Daniels (David), Kristine Hewitt(Dave); sons Matthew N. Memmott (Claudia),
Tyrel N. Memmott (Anu); 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren; brothers,
Ronald Bryan, Thomas Lenny, Micheal Arthur, and Patrick Memmott; sisters Lottie
Susan Johnson , Maurine Bonny Ingle, Connie Verdell Richards, and Sandra
Annette Memmott. Clayton was preceded in death by his parents, Mom and Dad
Memmott and Mom and Dad Russell, grandparents, and his nephew Rocky Blaine
Raddan. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 26, 2013
at the Jennings Lane Ward, LDS Church at 1451 North Main Street, Centerville,
UT. Friends and Family may visit Friday, between 6 and 9 p.m. at Russon
Brothers Mortuary, 295 N. Main Bountiful, UT or at 10 am-11:00 am at the
church. Interment will be at the Centerville City Cemetery at 600 E. 400 S.,
Centerville, Utah. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com
If you have any memories or stories of Clayton please share them with us in the comments for us all to enjoy.
