Gone Fishing!

On March 12th Tom was finally released from a terrible battle with Alzheimer’s.

Born in Seattle to Geraldine and Paul Clayton, he was the middle child of three boys Richard and Steve. Their family was displaced by the building of I5 and moved to Blue Ridge.

Spending time each summer at Cama Beach where he learned to fish, Tom and the boys specialized in pranks. The one he deeply regretted was pretending with another boy to drown. The boys also dislodged a boulder and watched it careen down the hill and demolish the loo. The culprits were never found.

In 1960 Tom graduated from Ballard high and then UW in 65 he pledged the Phi Delt and was dubbed “Bitch bitch” He paid his way working nights at Henry hardware and delivered the Dailey at the break of Dawn. He did ROTC and was off on graduation to Korea then Vietnam. Returning he wed Vicky Elmore and went to work for US Bank, reenrolling for a masters to up his skills. Tom’s specialty was equipment finance, and he worked into his late 70s making good friends along the way.

He and Vicky had three children, Paul, Pat, and Jessica he wed Virginia Day in 2013.

Tom was a hard worker and would volunteer to fix something before you even knew it was broke. He saw the huge sagging fence in a relative’s yard and replaced it in record time.

Tom’s love language was active service. He promised a nurse in the hospital before he passed a delivery of three large salmon.

Tom was most filled with joy when spending time with his surviving wife Virginia Day’s grandchildren.

Memorial is at 1pm May 8th at The Unitarian University Church 6556 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115.