Charles H. Clay

Clay, Charles H. of Edina, spent a final weekend surrounded by the family and friends he so loved, then died peacefully as the sun rose on Sunday, March 1, 2009. He was 83. Born in Troy, Montana, on August 5, 1925, he never lost his love of the mountains. Life took Chuck to Amery, Wisconsin, where he graduated from high school in 1942, to the forest service in Yellowstone Park and Troy, Montana, to the North Atlantic and South Pacific aboard the USS Wainwright during World War II, and to a long and active career in Minneapolis, MN. He received his Business & Law Degrees from the U of M, member Alpha Kappa Psi. He served as a law clerk for Justice Knutson of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He began his legal career at the Soo Line Railroad, becoming Executive Vice President - Assistant to the President before leaving the Soo Line in 1984 to practice with the Minneapolis law firm of Head, Seifert & Vender Weide. With two partners he founded the Red River Valley & Western Railroad, the Twin Cities & Western Railroad, The Minnesota Prairie Line and the Rutland Line, all short line railroads serving Minnesota and the Dakotas, as well as the Western Railroad Equipment Company (which he loved calling WREC). He remained active in civic affairs until his death, serving as a member of the Civic Caucus Core Group. He also served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Citizens League, and was its President from 1965 - 1966. He chaired the League's Metropolitan Affairs Committee, which led to the establishment of the Metropolitan Council. He served on the Board of Directors of Deaconess Hospital, and on the Edina School Board. He was a proud and loving father and grand- father, attending every musical, theatrical and sporting event possible. He wrote poetry and addressed the Amery High School Graduating Class of 1979. Preceded in death by infant sons, Richard and William. Survived by loving wife, Audrey Jorgenson Clay; children, Sheldon Clay (Carol), Janis Clay (Elam Baer), Steven Clay (Amy); grand- children, Ryan Clay, Lea Clay, Helen Baer, Emerson Clay, Oliver Clay, Eleanor Clay; sisters, Joyce Dickson (Carl), Patricia Kangas (Ken) and a large and close extended family and circle of friends. Visitation Thursday 5-7 PM at Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel, W. 50th St. and Hwy 100. Funeral Service Friday 11 AM with visitation 1 hour prior at Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Road, Edina. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers to Nature Conservancy, Allina Hospice or Normandale Lutheran Church. Interment Lakewood Cemetery. Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.