Don Clayton McConkie Obituary (1929

Clayton was named Don after his father but went by his middle name. He was born at Vernal, Utah on the 27th day of May, 1929. The event took place in the home of his grandparents, Ray and Vilate Pickup, who lived in an outlying farm area in the Glines Ward. There was a storm in Vernal that night, and when daybreak came, the lilac bushes in full bloom were bent down under several inches of snow. Vernal was a town of about two or three thousand people, located about 155 miles East of Salt Lake City, Utah. Clayton is the first born child of two children in his family. His sister did not come along until 10 years after. He is the son of Don Leo McConkie and Grace Pickup. Clayton’s father Don was born Aug 23, 1903 at Maeser, Utah, and is the son of John Luther McConkie and Eliza Ellen Holyoak, and died December 23, 1994. Clayton’s mother was born at Vernal, Utah, July 21st, 1903, and is the daughter of Clarence Ray Pickup and Celestia Vilate Batty, and died in April 26, 1993. Clayton lived with his parents in the house near the home of his grandparents until they were able to build their own home in a nearby town called Maeser. When they moved to Maeser, their house wasn’t quite finished yet, and so they stayed for a brief period with his grandparents, John and Eliza McConkie. Finally, in the Fall of 1931, they moved into their new home. Some of his favorite pastimes included riding bike to swimming hole, playing marbles, and shooting birds with his b-b gun. Some of his most impressionable memories while living in the Vernal/Maeser area include getting a new bike, getting the croup and having mustard plasters for the treatment, going to New York City at the age of 8 and seeing the first Hill Cumorah pageant, directing a play at the age of 8, the death of his grandmother, and being in several fights. The birth of his sister Colleen on April 19th, 1939 was an especially impressionable event. There were not a lot of families near Clayton’s home with children his age. His two closest friends where ¼ mile and ½ mile walking distance from home. His other friends lived more than 1 mile away, making it difficult to spend time with friends on a frequent basis. The average person might consider spending so much of one’s younger years playing alone an unfortunate circumstance. However, Clayton looks back on this time with the fondest of memories. Although Clayton often played alone, he would much rather play outside than read books. It wasn’t until he was 13 that he developed an interest in reading magazines for a pass time. And it was about that time in the summer of 1942 that he and his family moved to a house at Provo, Utah, located across the street from the home of his grandparents, Ray and Vilate Pickup, who had moved from Vernal a few years earlier. The decision to move came when his father was offered a teaching position at Dixon Jr. High in the Provo School District. The move itself proved to be quite eventful. They had put all of their belongings, including a cow, chickens, and a few other animals strapped securely in a large moving truck. The truck overturned along the way, leaving some of the animals suspended by their straps in harm’s way. Moving to Provo would be the beginning of a whole new world for Clayton, full of opportunities and where he would also be near a family of cousins, aunts and uncles, and his grandparents. The address was 755 North 7th East, a short distance from the upper campus of Brigham Young University. Shortly after moving to Provo, Clayton got a job with the Grounds Department at BYU driving a tractor at the age of 13 years old. During his Junior High years, Clayton was president of his home room class, and also served as school sheriff, a privilege that was later taken away when he dumped dirt on some students from a floor above. While living on 7th East, his family was members of the LDS Provo Ninth Ward, and Clayton attended Farrer Jr. High from 1942-1944. He attended B.Y. High from 1944 to 1947, and was an active member of the Thespian Club, managing the light booth for the school plays and assemblies. Clayton played basketball as a sophomore, and lettered in baseball and football. Clayton is the tight end on the left. He also enjoyed raising homing pigeons, repairing bicycles, and was 1st chair clarinet in the school band. He had a steady girlfriend while attending junior high school, but states that he seemed to have lost interest in girls during his high school years. His most notable achievement while in high school would probably be his position as sports writer for the newspaper staff. One of the most impressionable events during these years was the riveting loss of his uncle, missing in action while serving in the Army and stationed in China. Not long after this loss, another loss would send a jolt to this young man. Clayton had several dogs that he cared for and played with, one of which was Pal. Clayton enrolled at Brigham Young University in 1947 where he attended classes off and on for the next 3 years. During his college years he continued to work for the B.Y.U. Buildings and Grounds department and also took a job mixing cement with his feet. In June of 1950, he went on an LDS mission to the Eastern States Mission, where he worked in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. While serving in New York, he participated as an actor in the Hill Cumorah pageant. During which, he received a visit from his parents and sister. Upon returning from his mission, Clayton again enrolled at B.Y.U. After being suspended for a semester from BYU for poor grades, Clayton returned to school resolved to put an honest effort in to his classes. This would include 2 years as a member of the Air Force ROTC, 2 more years as a member of the National Guard, and student teaching with his father as his instructor. Clayton states that he received A grades from his father, not because of any preferential treatment, but because Clayton enjoy the classes so much and had a heightened interest in student teaching. This would be particularly reflected in the first several years of his teaching career as he says they were the best years of his career. It was the summer of 1953 that Julie Grace and Clayton would meet. Julie Grace was grocery shopping at Smeath’s Grocery store, located about a half block from Clayton’s home towards the B.Y.U. campus. She was in the vegetable section when someone over her shoulder said “Excuse me. Haven’t we met somewhere before?” “What a corny line” she thought but when she turned around, her eyes met a tall, dark and handsome young man and that’s all that mattered. Clayton offered to drive Julie Grace and her groceries home, and was bold enough to ask her out on a date. Clayton liked the outdoors and would like to take Julie Grace fishing at Hobble Creek, go on short rides around Provo and the canyons, and even trips to Southern Utah, and places like Arches National Park. Clayton and Julie Grace got engaged in July, set a date to be married the following February, but decided that was too long to wait and moved the date 2 months earlier. A few months after getting engaged, Julie Grace moved out from the apartment that she shared with several other girls, and moved home with her parents and sisters Mary, Francis and Amy and brother James, at their Lakeview home on Geneva Road, located just outside of Provo. Julie Grace reflects on the fun and laughter she shared with her sister Mary while living at home for the next few months. After Mary married and move out, Julie Grace also moved out to an apartment, where she would live until she and Clayton would marry. Julie Grace and Clayton were married on December 18th 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple. Where did they spend their honeymoon? You guessed it—they headed for Southern Utah and spent time at Zion’s National Park, and then on to Las Vegas for a short stay before returning home. They lived in a Provo apartment that Clayton had been buying at 794 E. 820 N. Grace continued working as a seamstress at Barbizon for a few weeks and then took a few months hiatus while Julie Grace and Clayton enjoyed being newlyweds. Clayton continued his schooling at B.Y.U., where he finally graduated on June 3, 1955, with a major in history and a minor in English. Clayton’s parents would frequently visit them and they would likewise go to Clayton’s parents’ house twice a week to enjoy and hot meal and watch some TV. In August of 1955, Clayton received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in English from Brigham Young University. In October, Clayton was drafted into the U.S. Army, was sent for a couple of weeks to Camp Williams, located between Salt Lake City and Provo, for Basic Training, and then for an addition 2 ½ months to Camp Carson, Colorado for some additional basic training. Clayton was able to return home for Christmas on furlough, and then take Julie Grace back with him to live at an apartment located at Colorado at 9 West Cimarron Street, apt. #11, Colorado Springs, while he finished his basic training at Camp Carson. After living at the Colorado Springs apartment for several months, they returned to Clayton’s parent’s house for a few days and dropped off some belongings, and then Julie Grace accompanied Clayton to the East Coast to say good-bye to her soldier headed off to Germany with the 97th Field Artillery Battalion. Together, they were able to do some sightseeing to include the Empire State Building, the Museum of Art, and a subway incident that was cause for concern for the touring couple. Clayton’s boat departed for Germany on April 4th, 1956. However, after saying good-bye to each other, Clayton learned that his boat would be delayed, giving them several more hours together in New Jersey. Clayton reminisces that serving in the Army was one of the best things that ever happened to him. It was about this time that Julie Grace’s parents moved to Colonia Juarez, Mexico with their children James, Francis and Amy, and so Julie Grace returned back to Provo, to live with Clayton’s parents for several months. During which time, she continued working at Barbizon Lingerie and shared a room with Clayton’s sister Colleen and even team-taught a Sunday school class with Colleen for the several months that Julie Grace spent there. That September, Army was able to send Julie Grace her and Clayton’s red Ford automobile to Germany. So back it was to New York City she went, and boarded the U.S.S. America to join Clayton in Wertheim, Germany. Clayton’s main job assignment with the Army was Main Battery clerk. They lived in a local inn for a couple of weeks and then moved to 30 Neusteige, at the home of the Ulitzka family, located on the hill toward the base. While living in Germany, Clayton and Julie Grace were able to take several sightseeing trips through Europe, as shown her while visiting Paris. Clayton also taught a typing class while at the Peden Barracks Army Base in Germany. Clayton was discharged the next year on July 9th, 1957, and traveled home in July with a pregnant Julie Grace. Having been quite ill in recent months, Julie Grace was especially glad to be home. Several months later on February 26th, 1958, Burke was born at the Utah Valley Hospital. Burke is shown here with two proud parents and grandparents. Clayton began teaching school at Jackson Junior High School, located on the west side of town between the railroad tracks and the State Fairgrounds, and they moved to a basement apartment in Salt Lake City at 955 Lincoln Street. During the following spring, however, the McConkie’s moved back to Provo and into an apartment at 735 North 9th East. Clayton had signed a contract with Provo High School as a teacher and head of the Journalism Department, and consequently was employed by the Provo Herald as a weekend Sports Editor. One would think that things were really falling into place. Clayton had always thought it would be ideal to work at Provo High and live near his family. It was during this period of time, on June 25th, 1959, that their second child was born—a daughter whom they named Carol Jolene McConkie. Caryl was also born at the Utah Valley Hospital. Clayton had a lot on his mind during these months and recounts his decision to undo commitments that had been made and return to Jackson Jr. High, a decision that would have a huge influence on the McConkie family for years to come. Clayton got a job with the Daily Herald newspaper as the night editor. However, something didn't seem right and so he asked the principal at Jackson if he could return. The principal was thrilled to have Clayton back and said that Clayton was the best first-year teacher he had ever had. The principal was impressed enough to allow Clayton to move to the 8th grade and teach the same bunch of students as before. So Julie Grace and Clayton moved back to Salt Lake City, where they would live in an apartment at 1107 Windsor Street for 1 month. From there, they relocated to a bottom rear apartment located at 571 ½ North 1st West Street (now 2nd west), where they spent most of the school year. Finally in the late spring of 1960, they purchased their first home at 1236 West 10th North (now 11th North), located in a Salt Lake City community called Rose Park. Clayton’s second year at Jackson Jr. High School worked out so well that the principal asked Clayton if he would consider moving to 9th grade and teach the same group of students for a 3rd year. While living at Rose Park, Julie Grace worked hard managing much of the household while Clayton attended the University of Utah. Clayton also served as counsel to the bishop of their ward for 3 years, and worked on the construction of the Rose Park North Stake building. Clayton’s sister Colleen lived with them for a few months in 1962 while student teaching and finishing her college degree. In August of that year, Colleen married Wayne Beesley and Julie Grace was the maid of honor. Upon completion of the new stake center, Julie Grace and Clayton’s ward was split and Clayton was asked to be the first Bishop of the recently organized Rose Park North Stake 11th ward. Julie Grace was at the Holy Cross Hospital when Clayton was sustained, having just given birth to Kristina. Realizing that more space was needed for the family’s new addition, Clayton converted a back patio and storage closet in the carport into a 4th and 5th bedroom. Although Clayton did not have experience in building construction, he enjoyed a good challenge and single handedly trained himself and performed the labor for this construction project. After having served as bishop for about a year, he was released in order to pursue graduate school. Clayton loved serving as counselor to the prior bishop but says he did not feel cut out to be a bishop. The stake was also in need of a High Councilman and Clayton made of good fit for that position. He obtained a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration in 1964, and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree (PHD) degree in Secondary Education in 1969 also from the University of Utah. Clayton expresses a deep gratitude to the United States government for his experience in Europe and his education under the GI bill. Those were good years for the McConkie family. Being a school teacher afforded Clayton plenty of time during the summer to spend with his family. Some of their most memorable trips were to Mexico several times for vacations and family reunions, to Disneyland a half dozen times, national parks and to Southern Utah, to Yellowstone a few times, and to Canada. After his 11th year at Jackson Junior High School, the school district decided to tear down the school? Ironically, Clayton was able to transfer to Clayton Junior High School. After a few years at Clayton Junior High, Clayton also made the switch from to South High, to see how teaching at the junior high level compared with the high school experience. However, after 2 months, he realized that his heart was more in to the junior high age group, and Clayton returned to Clayton Junior High School where he would eventually complete a tenure of 20 years with that school before retiring as a school teacher. Eight years after Kristina joined the family, John, the last of 4 Children was born at the LDS Hospital on September 23rd, 1972. They would return again among other times in May of 1973 to attend Julie Grace’s father’s funeral. Burke missed his junior high graduation and Clayton drove throughout the night to get there in time. Later that Fall, 2 young women moved in with the McConkie family under the direction of the Church sponsored Indian Placement Program. One of the main goals of this program was to provide a good home for children while attending school. Beulah was from Monument Valley, Utah and was close to Kristina’s age and shared her bedroom. Genevieve was from Gallup, New Mexico and was close to Caryl’s age and shared her bedroom. After a few months had passed, Genevieve expressed a desire to return to back to the Reservation. Beulah returned to her family in Monument Valley at the end of the school year, and started the next school year with another family. After several months, Beulah requested a transfer back to the McConkie family and finished the last several months of the school year with the McConkie’s. No other contact between Beulah and the McConkie’s occurred other than a few letters during the year that followed. One of Clayton favorite interests, aside from helping Julie Grace raise 4 children, was genealogy. He was a Sherlock Holmes of types, spending many hours of time at the LDS Genealogy Library, digging up leads and filling in some of the blanks associated with his ancestors. While serving in a youth leadership position at his church, Clayton produced an educational and motivational filmstrip about Genealogy, where Clayton disguises his voice with a Scottish accent for the main character of the filmstrip. Being a school teacher gave Clayton the flexibility to take the family on vacations throughout the summer. During the 60’s and early 70’s, the family would take trailer as far North as Jaspar National Park, Canada and as far South as Colonia Juarez, Mexico for several family reunions. Among other favorite places to vacation were Southern California and national parks throughout Utah. Burke graduated from West High School in 1976 and began college at Brigham Young University. During the following year, Caryl graduated from High School and Burke departed on a 2-year church mission to Fukuoka, Japan. Shortly after, Julie Grace was called to be Relief Society President for the 11th Ward, and Caryl began college at Brigham Young University. Burke returned from Japan in 1979, and a few weeks later, Caryl returned from a 1-month trip to Europe. Both Caryl and Burke enrolled at Brigham Young University for the Fall of 1979, although Caryl decided to forego her school at that time and marry Charles Brinkerhoff. Later that year, Julie Grace was appointed as PTA president at Newman Elementary School. Julie Grace had developed a talent playing the piano and often played for choirs and congregations at church. Julie Grace also has a beautiful voice and has been very involved with Church choirs in the past. Another interest of Clayton’s was his writing. Clayton loved to write and spent countless hours in his room banging on an old typewriter. He would go on to write over a dozen books, 10 of which would be published by Cedar Fort Inc., a mid-sized publisher based in Springville, Utah. His first book, entitled “The Gathering of the Waters” provided new and refreshing ideas about the lost 10 tribes of Israel and was published in 1997. Between the years of 1980 and 1991, John was the only one of the four children remaining at home. These were good years filled with rich memories. With only one child left at home, they were able to spend more time with John and more time on personal interests. Some of the memorable trips that they took together included destinations to Disneyland, Disneyworld/Orlando, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zions National Park, Arches National Park, Goblin Valley, Yellowstone National Park, and Craters in the Moon, hiking to Delicate Arch at Arches, Disneyworld, Cumorah Pageant, Church historical sites, and Washington DC. Clayton remarked “Burke and Caryl left home, and Kristine also not too long after that, it would have been a usual situation for us to be left alone as I was approaching 60 and nearing retirement. Fortunately, John had arrived and gave us a welcome extension of time with our family. Those last few years while he was growing up where much like those of the children before, although in some ways quite different. John was a lot like I was, many years ago, growing up alone in Maeser with only my mother and father at home. But those were happy years for me, even with no brother and sister around for company most of the time. And for John, I think he was happy too. We had a lot of good times together, including the many trips. Walt Disney and art work were important to John at that time. John was never as interested in Scouting as was Burke, but I can remember when that changed abruptly one night when we were in the tabernacle during conference time at General Priesthood meeting. President Benson in his talk mentioned how important it was for every boy to obtain an Eagle badge. From that moment on, John went after his Eagle rank with vigor and eventually achieved it. Indeed there are many happy memories of those years which we spent alone with John after the rest of the family had left and moved away.” Burke graduated from college in 1982, began employment with Hughes Aircraft Company in California, and married Elaine Shamo in January, 1983. They would have 2 children together. Julie Grace’s mother also passed away in January of 1984. Later that year, Kristina married Ken Speirs. The marriage would last 15 years with no children. Kristina represented the flashier side of the family. She would sit down at the piano and play almost anything by ear, and has a celebrity type persona that has led to a lot of friendships. In 1989, Clayton at the age of 60 opted on an early retirement offer from the Salt Lake City Board of Education. John graduated from West High School the next year, completed one year at the University of Utah, and began 2 years of service in the California Fresno Mission in 1991. In 1992, the family was grieved to learn that Julie Grace was diagnosed with A-Plastic Anemia. She was told by her doctor that she only had 2-3 years to live. She obtained a second opinion from the University of Utah Hospital and was told that with monthly blood transfusions, she could possible live as long as 5 years. She would end up beating all odds and prove the doctors wrong. Shortly after being diagnosed with the terminal disease, she also served as a State Delegate for the Republican Party. Caryl and Chuck divorced in 1987, leaving Caryl custody of the 3 children. Clayton’s mother passed away in 1993, followed by John’s return from his mission in California. John married Elizabeth Higgs in 1994 and they currently have 5 children. Clayton’s father also passed away that year. Clayton had made weekly visits to see he parents in Provo while during all the years he and his family lived in Salt Lake. During the last 10 years or so, he would make 2 and sometimes 3 trips to Provo to help take care of his parents. In 1995, Clayton and Julie Grace began 18 months of service in the Canada Winnipeg Mission, returned in November, 1996, and traveled to Hawaii, Egypt and Israel the next year. They were already planning to serve another mission, so they made their new home at Sky Harbor Apartments along Redwood Road in Salt Lake City for 9 months while John and Elizabeth continued to house-sit for them. John and Elizabeth would have their first 3 children while living in the home. John also graduated that year from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Studies. At the end of 1997, they began another 18 month term as missionaries in the Swiss Temple Mission. Clayton and Julie Grace returned from Switzerland in 1999, and Julie Grace (formerly known as Grace) legally added Julie to her name. They sold their home of 39 years, and bought a condo in Provo, near the BYU football stadium. During the 17 years while living in the Provo condo, they have been so fortunate to live across the street from Julie Grace’s sister and brother in-law, Mary and David Miles. David has been a long time Home Teaching companion with Clayton, and it has been a wonderful blessing for these two families to live so and be so involved with each other. Kristina and Ken divorced. In 1999, John graduated with a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Utah. Clayton and Julie returned to Switzerland for a third mission in 2001. Clayton was hit by a car and knocked unconscious in a parking lot, while walking through the countryside during the next year but recovered quickly. They returned from their third LDS mission in February of 2003. During the last mission in Switzerland, Julie Grace developed an interest in French. Self-study through books, ordinance work, conversational French, attempting to read the French version of the Book of Mormon. During the past decade, Clayton has become a successful author of over a dozen books, 10 of which have been published and are featured at www.claymcconkie.com. He also wrote a science fictional account about the Lost Tribes of Israel and they exodus into the Northern territories. However, that book along with a few other books were never published. Among his writings during these years, and acknowledged as being his favorite book was a broad collection of poetry and self-improvement articles. This collection was published as “Fields of Sunshine” in 2007. In his early years, Clayton developed a love of the desert, camping, and hiking - a love that would stay with him his whole life. He loved spending time spent with his family, and chose not to pick up a summer job while teaching school so he could spend more time with them, taking them across the country to national parks, Disneyland, Church historical sites and Washington DC. Clay was known most as a teacher, scholar, author of eleven books, poet, skillful genealogist, and fly fisherman. Clay was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His faith and testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel were unwavering. He will be remembered for his quiet and gentle manner, and for his witty humor. Included with his gift of humor, Clayton was a pun master. And he would measure the success of his jokes in groans from his audience as much or even more than the laughter. To that end, his jokes were a success and will be fondly remembered. Just before Christmas, Clayton published his eleventh and final book, in what would be his eleventh hour, entitled “After Armageddon”. A special printing for family members was provided by Cedar Fort, Inc. in tribute to Clayton. 2 months later, Clayton embarked on a new journey as he said a final good-bye to his Family. Clayton is preceded in death by his parents, and will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Julie Grace, children Burke (Elaine) McConkie, Caryl McConkie, Kristina Hanks, John (Liz) McConkie, sister Colleen Beesley, ten grandchildren and spouses, and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of a viewing, a family reception will be held on Friday, February 24, 2017 from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the Pleasant View 9th Ward Chapel, 2445 Timpview Dr, Provo, UT. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Provo Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.