Ralph Clay

Ralph Kindel Boylan Clay

March 11, 1934 - May 27, 2023

Ralph Kindel Boylan Clay, 89, passed away Saturday, May 27, 2023, with family around him in Santa Maria, California.

He was born on March 11, 1934, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Ruth Pierpont Kindel and Ralph Fisher Boylan. His father passed away in 1937 and his mother remarried George Elliot Clay and made their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ralph and his brother, Jim, were adopted by George Clay.

Ralph met his wife, Susan Kendall, at Leelanau High School in Glen Arbor, Michigan. After serving in the Navy, they married in 1957. Ralph graduated from Colgate University in 1961 and he moved his small family to Santa Rosa, California.

He worked for Schwabacher & Co and Mason Brothers before starting his own business, Empire Vending Company in Santa Rosa. Ralph was active in Santa Rosa Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Regional Group of the Horseless Carriage Club of America. He enjoyed sailing in the San Francisco Bay on his sailboat, Westwind, traveling the world and enjoyed his hobby of photography. Throughout the years, he lived in Grand Rapids, MI; Santa Rosa, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Days Creek, OR and finally settled in Santa Maria, CA.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sue, sibling, Christopher Elliot Clay, and his parents.

He is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Clay Elias (Wayne) of Santa Maria, CA; Catherine Lassesen (Rune) of Days Creek, OR and son, R. Curtis Clay of Henderson, NV. His three grandchildren, Andrew Clay Elias of Mountain View, CA, Matthew Kendall Elias of San Francisco, CA, and Susan Nicole Elias of Maui, HI. His siblings, James Gregory Clay of Grand Rapids, MI, Thompson Elliot Clay of Grand Rapids, MI, Celia Kindel Clay Said of Grand Rapids, MI, John Elliot Kindel Clay of Suisun City, CA and several nephews and nieces.

He will be missed by dear friends that he made in Santa Maria and at the B.P.O. Elks - No. 1538 Santa Maria Elks Lodge. He recently became a member of The Mayflower Society, California, Santa Barbara Colony.

At Ralph's request, there will be no funeral service held. Inurnment will be in Santa Rosa, CA alongside his wife and a small Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at Marian Regional Medical Center for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate it if you could share a special memory in the digital guestbook or cards to: Memory of Ralph Clay, P. O. Box 2247, Orcutt, CA 93457.