Clayton Earl Stephens' Obituary
Clayton Earl Stephens went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 15, 2024. At 92, he lived a long life filled with love, adventure, and service to the Lord. His faith was the center of his life and is now a source of comfort to his family who will miss him dearly.
Clayton was born on December 30, 1931, in Llano, Texas, to Ira and Evie Stephens. As a teen, he moved with his family to Tacoma, WA, where he enlisted in the Navy at only 15 years old. Clayton loved to tell stories about boxing in the Navy, where he became known as “The Texas Tornado.” Friends also called him “Tookie.”
Married to his wife, Dolores, for over 50 years, Clayton loved to travel. He and Dolores were snowbirds, heading south each Fall in their RV and returning in the spring. They loved visiting sunny destinations like Yuma, Arizona, and Mexico and would spend Christmas with family in San Antonio before returning home to Graham, Washington.
Clayton loved being with family and never passed up an invitation. He was present in the lives of the people he loved. He enjoyed a good meal and was always the last person at the table. He loved to talk and tell stories of his life’s adventures, but most of all he loved to talk about the Lord. He spent hours each day studying his bible and devotionals. Spreading the word of God was his purpose in life. He would tell anyone who would listen, including strangers, about the good news of Jesus Christ.
Clayton is survived by his loving children, Cheryl (Richard) Klos, Mark (Stephanie) Stephens, and Linda (Chris) Wong, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores, his parents Ira and Evie Stephens, and his brothers, Billy Joe and Van Stephens.
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