Clayton T. Coleman

CLAYTON T. COLEMAN AUG 18, 1929 - NOV 20, 2008 Clayton Thurston Coleman, age 79, of Oakdale, CA, passed away at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto on November 20, 2008 after suffering a heart attack. Clayton was born to Dewey and Marie Coleman on August 18, 1929 in Riverbank, CA. He moved to Oakdale at the age of two where he resided his entire life. Clayton graduated from Oakdale High School in 1947 and attended College of Pacific in Stockton. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a self-employed dairyman for 15 years before becoming a salesman for the A.L. Gilbert Company where he worked for more than 30 years. Clayton was a 16-year member of the Oakdale School Board, a more than 50-year member of the Potluck Group'', and a member of the Oakdale Supper Club, among other affiliations. Family was so very important to Clayton. He cherished and loved his wife, children and grandchildren, his sister, and his extended Dutch family. His friends were countless and he drew them together with the numerous vacations, bus trips and events he planned. Always the entertainer, Clayton was a good cook who planned dinners at home and at the family cabin. A nice glass of wine and a good meal shared with those he loved brought him much joy. He always thought of others before himself and was generous in reaching out to those he knew who were alone, ill, or who had lost loved ones. He taught his children by his example the importance of a strong work ethic, responsibility and honesty. He will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Aty (Dykzeul) Coleman; his four children: Marc (Veronica) Coleman of Hilmar, Jeff (Lori) Coleman of Turlock, Kelly (Tom) Kisabeth of Napa, and Carrie (David) Dollar of El Dorado Hills; eight grand- children; and his sister, Betty Clark of Sacramento. Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 6 p.m. on Fri., November 28th at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Oak and Olive Streets in Oakdale. A Mass of Christian Burial will also be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 9 a.m. on Sat., November 29th. Oakdale Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Assn., 1710 Gilbreth Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 or St. Mary's Helping Hand, P.O. Box 970, Oakdale, CA 95361.www.modbee.com/obituaries