July 25, 1922 - December 20, 2018
Clayton Findlay Obituary Clayton Findlay 07/25/1922-12/20/2018 Colonel (Retired) Clayton (Clay) Findlay, age 96, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 20, 2018, with family by his bedside. He was born in Fish Haven, Idaho on July 25, 1922 to Laurel and Grace Findlay. He was an only child and raised solely by his mother after the death of his father when he was 4 years old. They moved to Vernal, UT, where he attended High School. Before he graduated, and with a special letter from his mother, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps followed by the U.S. Army Air Forces and then the U.S. Air Force. He had a 32 year career before retiring as a full Colonel. During the course of his military career, he was a pilot, a squadron leader, an air transport commander, and a Professor of Aerospace Studies at the University of Missouri. During WWII, he served in India, the Asian Pacific Theaters and he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in missions. He earned two bachelor�s degrees in history and education and a master�s degree in political science, all while serving in the Air Force. Clay retired from the Air Force in the early 70�s and settled in Spokane. He started his second career with USPA, a financial planning company specifically for retired and active duty military personnel. After 15 successful years, he retired and spent his remaining years enjoying time with family, and fly fishing all over the world and the Inland Empire he loved so much. His fishing took him to New Zealand, South America, Christmas Island, and his almost yearly trip to Alaska. He met the love of his life, Diane, while stationed in Great Falls, MT, and they were married for 50 great years until she passed in 1998. Clayton is survived by his son Bob (Melinda) Findlay, daughter Sandy (Jeff) Teich, grandchildren Jackie (Josh) Sorlie, JC (Ashley-Jo) Findlay, Heather (Darrin) Neal, great-grandchildren Brittney Sorlie, JJ Findlay, Jr., Zakerie Fanning and our very special family caregiver, LuAnn (Bill) Stephenson. Clay had a great love of the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a long time member of the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club and was honored as Fly Fisherman of the Year in 1984. He had many close friends there and enjoyed fishing and traveling with all of them. He moved to the Rockwood Retirement Community in 2007 and lived a happy and active life there for 11 years. He made a lot of good friends with both residents and many special employees. He was a very disciplined, generous and giving man and passed along to his family the value of charity and giving to others. He will be missed tremendously by his family and all who knew him. A Memorial service with be at Heritage Funeral Chapel at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 12, 2019, followed by his inurnment at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. A Celebration of Life will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Nmss.org) or the Union Gospel Mission of Spokane (Uniongospelmission.org). � To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Clayton, please visit our Tree Store. Read more Events DEC 20
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