Clayton Kay Johnson

CLAYTON JOHNSON Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident Clayton Johnson will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 28 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, M Road Chapel. Bishop Vaughn Cook will officiate. Interment will follow at Eastland Cemetery in Eastland, Utah. Visitation has been scheduled for Friday evening from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Clayton passed away on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at Southwest Memorial Hospital at the age of 68 as a result of heart failure. He was born October 13, 1947 in Monticello, Utah the son of Eldon and Nereece Johnson, he was the middle child of three. His childhood days were spent helping work the farm at Eastland, Utah and fixing the equipment. When Clayton was nine years old, he taught himself about engines by rebuilding a broken down motor by himself. He could fix anything and many of his years were spent doing just that. Clayton graduated from the College of Southern Utah with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology. While at college he met and married Gaylene Taylor. Clayton began his career in Kennewick, Wa. as the shop manager at U&I Sugar in the development of a 20, 000 acre farm. He eventually ended up in Cortez, Colo. as a partner in a John Deere dealership. Clayton had recently retired from his businesses, CDL Trucking and Arrow Towing, which he operated for many years. Clayton loved to learn. He was continually searching and always had a book in his hand. He loved history and genealogy and could be found scouring the cemeteries wherever he went. Clayton loved to joke and was always happy. He will be remembered as a kind, giving man who would go to great lengths to help anyone in need. Surviving Clayton are his wife of 46 years, Gayleen Johnson of Cortez; his children, Kirby Johnson (Patricia) of Cortez, Kim Jacobs (Chester) of Cedar City, Utah, Holli Rodriguez of Fort Collins, Colo., and Jordan Brace (Glen) of Cortez; his 13 grandchildren; and his siblings, Linda Lewis (Ty) of Monticello, Utah and Brent Johnson (Tauna) of Saint George, Utah. Clayton was preceded in death by his parents.