Obituary of Lonnie Clay

Martin Alonzo "Lonnie" Clay 1954 - 2015 I would like to thank everyone for coming today, so we may honor a truly loved and respected member of our family and community. I would also like to thank Bergeron Funeral Services for the excellent care they have given to the Clay family, especially Brian Waddell who is Lonnie's son-in-law. Thanks Brian. Lonnie Clay was born Martin Alonzo Clay on July 14, 1954 in the Dawson Creek hospital. He was the 4th of 7 children born to Doug and Betty Clay. Lonnie's early years were spent on the family farm across the river in Clayhurst, where he developed a love for animals, especially horses, but with the exception of pigs. He hated pigs! Lonnie attended school in Clayhurst where you could still ride your horse to school, if you weren't walking up hill both ways in a snow storm. From a young age, Lonnie had a knack for fixing things and would apply his skill around the community. As a teenager, Lonnie spent a lot of time with his cousin Buddy Clay and good friend Albert Yake, when most nights out, ended in a fist fight. Lonnie was never scared of a challenge and would change careers many times throughout his life. He did everything from welding, painting, drove truck, operated heavy equipment and had a salvage business. In 1973, he was working for BG Lytton running a grader up the Alaska Highway around Mile 245 when he met the love of his life. Her name was Wendy Joy Hyette, she was 15 years old from Surrey, BC and was working for her father at the Profit River Lodge. Lonnie and Wendy soon fell in love and on July 5, 1975 they got married in Cherry Point, Alberta on Pam and Dennis Fraser's farm. Eventually they had four children, starting with Kane Douglas in 1976, Shelbie Lynn in 1978, Matthew Alonzo in 1980, and Kailie Betty Joy in 1984. This year, Lonnie and Wendy celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and after all the years together, their love was stronger than ever. Lonnie was always active in his community. He coached his sons in hockey and baseball, even had a perfect season, where his ball team from Doe River went undefeated. He would volunteer for field trips to Gwillam Lake and wouldn't hesitate to take on stray animals and people who needed help. He encountered many hardships throughout his life but never would you hear him complain about them, he kept a positive attitude right to his final days. Lonnie was also known for his hard work and innovation, like the time the transmission went out of the old station wagon, so he drove in reverse for about 20 miles and when he got to Fort Nelson, changed out the transmission in the driveway and got to drive home going forward. Another time, the head gasket went in Wendy's van outside of Williams Lake and Lonnie stripped it down in the Canadian Tire parking lot and was on the road by morning. Over the last few years, Lonnie spent most of his free time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, if there was a baby in the room, Lonnie had to hold it, and most times he wouldn't give them back. If you have been to his house in Rolla, the walls are covered with pictures of his family and each one shows the love he had for them all. Sadly on December 23, 2015, after a hard fought battle with liver disease, Lonnie passed away in the Vancouver hospital, surrounded by family, love, laughter and music. Above all else, Lonnie loved his family. He was predeceased by his father Douglas, mother Betty, brother Earl and sister Pam. Lonnie is survived by his wife Wendy, son Kane and his wife Jen, daughter Shelbie and her husband Brian, son Matthew and his wife Shawna, and his youngest daughter Kailie. His grandchildren are as follows: Kasia, Connor, Drake, Gracie, Oliver, Kora, Daryell, William, Anna and his great-grandchildren Sophia and Kaleb. Lonnie also leaves behind 4 sisters: Alice Rose, Rene Lowe, Barb Wetmore, and Virginia Streeper. In closing, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Lonnie's wife, Wendy, and the rest of the Clay family. I would also like to say that it's truly an honor to be given the opportunity to speak on their behalf. Thank you.

Service

2:00 pm Thursday, December 31, 2015

The Rolla Community Hall

5198 Rolla

ROLLA, British Columbia, Canada

Interment

Cherry Point Community Cemetery

General Delivery Cherry Point

CHERRY POINT, Alberta, Canada

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