Clayton E. Hartman

Clayton Hartman Obituary

Hartman, Clayton E.
Kindness lost one of its great ambassadors on March 17, 2011, St. Patrick's Day, when congestive heart failure claimed the life of Clayton E. Hartman at age 92. A longtime resident of the Valley, Clay moved to Arizona in 1938 from his hometown of Council Grove, Kansas. It was in Phoenix that he met Charlotte Trimble who became his wife of sixty-six years until her death in 2008. With the outbreak of World War II, Clay joined the Army Air Corp where his lifelong love affair with aviation began. While Clay enjoyed powered flight, his greater love became powerless flight, or sailplanes. Many of his soaring friends also shared his fondness for the outdoors, including fishing, hunting and merely observing Nature at her finest. Working in the food industry before and after the War, Clay purchased a food brokerage business, A.R. Staley Sales Company, in 1951 which he continued to operate until his retirement in 1983. Clay was past president of the Phoenix Downtown Lions Club, Phoenicians Committee of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the National Food Brokers Association, and, in retirement, was the Arizona state chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Christ Church of the Ascension, 4015 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to remember Clay with gifts for Hospice of the Valley.

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Published by The Arizona Republic from Mar. 27 to Mar. 30, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Clayton Hartman

4 Entries

April 20, 2011

The last time I heard from Clay, was an e-mail on March 16, that he had just gotten out of the hospital and needed time to respond to the many e-mails he had received. I started to get worried because, a month seemed like a long time for Clay to be off the computer. I really enjoyed all the fun things he would forward... I used to waitress at The Eggery until about 6 years ago, and I waited on the coffee club every Tuesday and most Fridays. I have on occasion, stopped by to visit the gang at the restaurant and had written Clay A few weeks earlier to try and work out a good day for me to come visit everyone. When I was still working at the Eggery my favorite day of the week was Tuesday, because I knew no matter what, Clay would bring a smile to my face. He was such a charmer and an all around good character. Clay will be missed!! He was one of the last great gentelmen of his era. My most sincere condolences, Roxanne Sebring

charles haywood

April 20, 2011

somehow the thought corssed my mind last night that I had not heard from Clay recently and wondered if something had happened....using the internet today I was saddened but not suprised to learn of his passing....Clay, during many periods of my llife, was a mentor...a pillar of support...a friend.....always smiling ....neveer forget that some 41 years ago when my wife,Maria, was pregnat withson Charlie..we were at the Camelback and Clay wanted to get in a plae and take a tourof Arizona...Maria ..with probably good advice..was told she really should not be flying in a small plane at 8 months..so Clay..Maria and I jumpted into his car ...toured eveything to Sedona....and stopped at every restaurant that had homemade pie......aas talented and successful las he was...he never forgot how to enjoy the simple things in life....miss you Clay..Charles Haywood,Chevy Chase, MD

Charles Haywood

April 20, 2011

somehow the thought entered my mind last night that I had not heard from Clay recently and wondered if something happened....using the internet today I was saddened but not suprised to learn of his passing....Clay, during many periods of my life, was a mentor...a pillar of support...a friend.....always smiling ....never forget that some 41 years ago when my wife,Maria, was pregnant with son Charlie..we were at the Camelback and Clay wanted to get in a plane and take a tour of Arizona...Maria ..with probably good advice..was told she really should not be flying in a small plane at 8 months..so Clay..Maria and I got into his car ...toured eveything to Sedona....and stopped at every restaurant that had homemade pie.He knew them all.....as talented and successful as he was...he never forgot how to enjoy the simple things in life.so happy we had chance to have lunch with Clay and his son last Summer...miss you Clay..

Sally Ryan Stults

March 28, 2011

I feel happy knowing that my Dad and Clay are once again enjoying eachother's company, and likely a sailplane ride in heaven. My condolences to you.

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