The youngest son of Agnes and Peter Clayton - my Uncle Byron - died Friday morning.
The last time I saw him was at my mom's 90th birthday party 4 years ago. I called a few more times to try and arrange another visit - I had visited him 2 or 3 times in the years previous - but we never found a time that worked for both of us. I think I should have been more diligent - I had some more questions for him.
I should probably write up the conversations I did have with him, because they were interesting and enlightening. He seemed to have a memory for details, and he told the stories with details, which of course made them easy to listen to and fascinating.
Story telling may be a Clayton trait!!
It is the end of one era, but my grandfather remarried twice and there are half siblings of my father that are still alive. Because they are close in age to me, I often think of them as more like cousins. Byron always seemed like an uncle! I recall going to his wedding when he married his first wife. We all got new clothes - it was pretty exciting for us.
As an older teen, he was involved in a serious car accident where the other passenger died. He was injured and taken to a hospital in Monrovia where he recuperated for many months. My mom remembers going to visit him there - the hospital was on Foothill!
For many years he worked at the May Company, and when my brothers went on missions, he got special discounts for them on luggage and suits. He was not active in the church, but he lived right next door to the Claremont Stake Center. He would say, "Isn't MIA on Thursday night? It was always on Thursday night. I don't see any kids over there on Thursday nights."
He was something of a loner. As we spoke of him tonight, my mom said, "Well, I don't think he's a loner anymore."
I'm sure the reunion was a happy one. He lost his mother as a small boy of 8 or so, and I imagine they were both delighted to reunite.
Rest in peace Uncle Byron!
