Sister, Aunt, Friend

I wanted to mention that Lew's sister Canday passed away on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 1:05am. She had been sick for a long time. Her health really declined over the past year. She and Lew both knew that it wouldn't be long. Lew did her eulogy and did a very good job. He really held it together. I am going to copy her eulogy here for posterity. Lew added a few of his own words at the end.

Candace Clayton was born July 29, 1955 to Charles & Joyce Clayton. Three years later her brother Lew was born. H e would become the victim of her torture, teasing and tattling throughout their childhood. In later years, they would become trusted allies and cherished friends.

When Candy was eight years old, she was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a youth, she attended Girls Camp and became a counselor. Later she would share her memories with her niece, Madison as she went through the program herself.

Candy spent her weekends and summers traipsing through the woods and burning up the roads of Salt Springs with her brother, cousins and friends. She made friends wherever she went. Candy loved to giggle, sometimes uncontrollably, a trait she inherited from the Clayton gene pool.

Candy attended schools throughout Florida as our father relocated with his railroad job. In 1973, she graduated from Wildwood High School. She attended Santa Fe Community College for one year in the Graphic Design program where she discovered her talent which she could use for many years in the printing business.

From 1974-1977, Candy was enlisted in the United States Army. She worked as a generator mechanic. She was proud of this because, at the time, it was an occupation rarely heard of for women.

Candy was an avid and passionate reader. Her collection of books numbered into the hundreds. She was a member of every mail order book club ever established. Most of her books she read two or three times.

When Candy wasn’t reading, she was cooking. Her cooking skills, in my opinion, rivaled those of Paula Deen and Bobby Flay. She could have had a Throwdown with Bobby Flay when it came to boiled peanuts. We would try and try, but we could never duplicate her delicious boiled peanuts. I will always cherish our last day together as she tested a new recipe and I was the lucky guinea pig.

Candy dearly loved her nieces, Madison and Jensen and her nephew Parker and enjoyed spending time with them whenever she got the chance.

This was the program. It was a very nice service. We really appreciate everyone that participated and brought food. It is so humbling when you are a recipient of the service of others.

Presiding: Bishop Derek W. Berge
Conducting: Bishop Derek W. Berge
Opening Prayer: Karen Boone
Soloist: Katie Sage
Accompanist: Lurlene Lawton
Eulogy: Lewis S. Clayton
Soloist: Megan Boone
Speaker: President James C. Watkins
Poem: Natalie Chase
Closing Remarks: Bishop Derek W. Berge
Closing Song: Hymn 300 Families Can Be Together Forever
Closing Prayer: Neal Strickland