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Alexander Clayton "Clay" Houston
Alexander Clayton "Clay" Houston, 86, Lawrence, died peacefully July 18th, 2015, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. He was surrounded by his loving family.
He was born December 1st, 1928 in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Guy Robert Houston and Helen Porter Houston. Clay graduated from the Chadwick Seaside School in California and then attended Stanford University, where he received his BA degree in Economics. He later attended graduate school at Fort Hays State University where he studied Zoology.
He married Susanne Holyoke Elwood in Stanford Chapel on the day of their graduation, June 19th, 1950.
Mr. Houston served his country as Private First Class in the U.S. Army, stationed in Hawaii at the end of the Korean War.
He moved to Hays, Kansas in 1956 to raise his family and manage the A.C. Houston Lumber Companies in the towns of Hays, Russell, Claflin, and Bushton.
Clay then retired to live on property in the countryside near Baldwin City, where he and his wife enjoyed gardening and caring for a large assortment of animals for many years.
They later moved to Lawrence, after which he began a second career as a book dealer, first working for J. Hood Booksellers, and then eventually self-employed under the name of AC Houston Bookman.
Survivors include his wife, Susanne Elwood Houston of Lawrence; daughter, Laura Houston Weaver and son-in law Edward John Weaver of London ON, Canada; son, Peter Clayton Houston and daughter-in-law Dr. Mary Eleanor Morningstar of Lawrence; grandchildren, Clayton Edward Weaver and Anne Holyoke Weaver of London ON, Canada, Alexander Clayton Houston, Eleanor Morningstar Houston, and Mariah Holyoke Houston of Lawrence; sister, Anne Houston Kappelman of Vashon, WA.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Public Library or the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
5 Entries
Sue
I wanted to post a note to say that I was sorry to read about Clay's passing. Reading about Clay, I realise how little I knew of him but I enjoyed working with him and with you on projects at the house.
Brett Groene
July 29, 2015
Peter and family we're so sorry for your loss he was a kind man.
Rob and Mary Anne Kort
July 28, 2015
Peter, Mary and Family,
Pete and I were so sorry to hear about Clay's death. Please know that we are thinking of all of you at this difficult time.
Ann and Pete Wiklund
July 28, 2015
I mourn my Uncle Clay, and will miss his humor, kindness and sweetness.
Kathy Reiser
July 28, 2015
So sorry for your loss, Laura. I hope that happy memories of special times with your Father sustain you in the days and weeks ahead.
Shirley Little
July 27, 2015
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Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044
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